U.S. Decision On Striking Iran To Be Made In 'Next Two Weeks' (Updated)

As the conflict between Israel and Iran entered its seventh day, U.S. President Donald Trump today signaled that he'll decide on whether to order the U.S. military to strike Iranian nuclear facilities within the next two weeks. That decision will ultimately depend on whether or not Tehran enters into talks over ending its nuclear weapons program.
In a statement relayed through White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump said: 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.'
White House press secretary reads a statement from Trump about Iran: 'Based on the fact there is a chance for substantial negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision on whether or not to go within the next two weeks.'
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) June 19, 2025
Yesterday, Trump was reportedly moving closer to getting directly involved in the fight. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump 'told senior aides late Tuesday that he approved of attack plans for Iran, but was holding off on giving the final order to see if Tehran would abandon its nuclear program.' The publication cited three people familiar with the deliberations.
It's always possible that this is a ruse and the decision has already been made, similar to how Israel launched its attack prior to scheduled talks with the U.S., but we have no evidence of that at this time.
You can catch up on our coverage of Israel's Operation Rising Lion, designed to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons and dismantle its long-range weapons capabilities, here.
Israel continued to strike targets at dozens of locations in Iran overnight, with perhaps the most prominent being the Arak heavy water reactor. The damage caused by the attack is revealed by satellite imagery of the aftermath, including a direct hit on the large dome-like structure at the facility that covers the reactor itself.
Iranian state television reported that there was 'no radiation danger whatsoever' and that the facility had already been evacuated before the attack. Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that the facility was still under construction and contained no nuclear material.
IAEA has information the Khondab (former Arak) heavy water research reactor, under construction, was hit. It was not operational and contained no nuclear material, so no radiological effects.At present, IAEA has no information indicating the Khondab heavy water plant was hit.
— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency
(@iaeaorg) June 19, 2025
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had warned people to evacuate the area around the heavy water reactor in the regions of Arak and Khondab a few hours before it launched its attack.
Located around 150 miles southwest of Tehran, the Arak facility produces the heavy water used to cool nuclear reactors. As a byproduct of this process, the plan also produces plutonium, which can potentially be used in nuclear weapons. This would offer another route to procuring a nuclear warhead, other than enriched uranium.
Footage released by the IDF showing the strike on the Arak facility indicates that the reactor was attacked using a standoff weapon involving man-in-the-loop guidance. Likely candidate weapons for such a strike include a Delilah air-launched cruise missile, a Popeye air-to-surface missile, or a SPICE 2000 guided bomb fitted with a wing kit.
The IDF releases new footage of its strike this morning on Iran's Arak heavy water reactor. pic.twitter.com/jIp0szTQYn
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 19, 2025
Back in 2015, Iran agreed to redesign the Arak facility to relieve proliferation concerns. Iran also agreed to sell off its heavy water to the West, while the United Kingdom helped Iran modify the Arak reactor to limit the amount of plutonium it produces.
After the strike, Israel said it was still concerned the facility could be used to produce plutonium.
The IDF said in a statement: 'The strike targeted the component intended for plutonium production, in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development.'
As well as hitting Arak, the IDF said it had also carried out a further attack on the nuclear enrichment site at Natanz, as well as air defense batteries, missile storage sites, radars, and other sites.
The IDF struck key sites tied to Iran's nuclear weapons and missile programs, including:– Inactive nuclear reactor in Arak—a key component in plutonium production– A nuclear weapons development site near Natanz– Ballistic missile & air defense production facilities– Radar… pic.twitter.com/2YpMZVYzXv
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 19, 2025
Israel has provided its sternest threat yet to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after Soroka hospital in southern Israel was hit during an Iranian missile attack this morning. Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz said Khamenei 'can no longer be allowed to exist.'
'Khamenei openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed — he personally gives the order to fire on hospitals,' Katz told journalists in Holon near Tel Aviv. 'He considers the destruction of the state of Israel to be a goal.'
'These are some of the most serious war crimes — and Khamenei will be held accountable for his actions,' Katz said.
Katz added that he had ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to destabilize the 'Ayatollah regime,' with instructions to ramp up strikes on strategic-related targets in Tehran and the power infrastructure in the Iranian capital.
'Katz says he and …Netanyahu have 'instructed the IDF to intensify strikes against strategic targets in Iran and government-related targets in Tehran, in order to eliminate threats to the State of Israel and destabilize the ayatollah regime.'' https://t.co/PNgo3AzOZT
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj) June 19, 2025
Soroka Hospital was struck after Iran fired approximately 30 ballistic missiles at Israel on Thursday morning, according to IDF assessments.
Footage posted to social media showed the aftermath of the attack that hit Soroka Hospital in the Israeli city of Beersheba. People could be seen running through corridors filled with dust and debris, with doctors standing outside amid wreckage from the building. Israeli media aired footage of blown-out windows and heavy black smoke.
'A direct hit has been reported at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, southern Israel. More details to follow,' the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted on X.
Massive damage to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, following the impact of a ballistic missile fired by Iran. pic.twitter.com/8rXhGeuk0z
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 19, 2025
A spokesperson for the hospital reported 'damage to the hospital and extensive damage in various areas. We are currently assessing the damage, including injuries. We ask the public not to come to the hospital at this time.'
Formally known as the Soroka Medical Center, the hospital has over 1,000 beds and provides services to the approximately one million residents of Israel's south, as well as soldiers wounded in Gaza.
A hospital statement said several parts of the medical center were damaged and that the emergency room was treating several minor injuries. The hospital was closed to all new patients except for life-threatening cases. AP reports that many hospitals in Israel activated emergency plans in the past week, converting underground parking to hospital floors and moving patients underground, especially those who are on ventilators or are difficult to move quickly.
Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service said that a directive has been issued to reduce the number of people on the floor that was hit in the hospital. The service said that there had been no hazardous materials released and that patients were now being moved to other hospitals in southern Israel.
Haim Bublil, a local police commander, told reporters that several people were lightly wounded in the strike on the hospital. He said there was a fire in a six-story building that was hard to access, and that rescuers were still searching various buildings.
Tehran has denied that it deliberately targeted the hospital.
The 'main target' of the missile attack was the 'large [IDF] command and intelligence headquarters and the military intelligence camp in the Gav-Yam Technology Park', the Iranian state-run news agency IRNA reported. IRNA said that the facility is located next to the hospital.
Iranian state media Mehr: "Hebrew media claim that one of the Iranian missiles hit Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva; but the reality is that the main target of the attack was the large IDF Command and Intelligence (IDF C4I) headquarters and the army intelligence camp in the Gav-Yam… pic.twitter.com/50HtcAowZx
— Steve Lookner (@lookner) June 19, 2025
IRGC Statement: 'We struck the Soroka site, which was secretly used as a military facility for high-level meetings of occupation leaders. Large caches of weapons were stored beneath it.'
— Faytuks Network (@FaytuksNetwork) June 19, 2025
Iranian media posted a sarcastic video claiming there was a military base under the Israeli hospital that was hit today— mocking Israel's past justification for striking dozens of Gaza hospitals. pic.twitter.com/iGn1zNwIpJ
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 19, 2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will exact the full price from the 'tyrants' in Tehran.
'This morning, Iran's 'terrorist tyrants' launched missiles at Soroka hospital in Beersheba and at a civilian population in central Israel,' Netanyahu said in a post on X.
Israel's PM Netanyahu: "This morning, Iran's terrorist tyrants launched missiles at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba and at a civilian population in the center of the country. We will exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran". https://t.co/doSxydmdsT
— Faytuks News (@Faytuks) June 19, 2025
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said the strike on the hospital was 'deliberate' and 'criminal.'
'Iran just hit Soroka Hospital in Beersheba with a ballistic missile. Not a military base. A hospital. This is the main medical center for Israel's entire Negev region. Deliberate. Criminal. Civilian target. The world must speak out,' Haskel wrote on X.
Other locations that were targeted by the latest barrage of Iranian missiles included Holon and Ramat Gan in central Israel. In Holon, emergency services said that one person had been seriously wounded and another two dozen left with minor injuries, according to a report in The Times of Israel.
Full footage showing Iranian missiles hitting Israel this morning. pic.twitter.com/mut0H8Z9r7
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 19, 2025
Minor damage was also caused to Wolfson Medical Center in the Tel-Aviv District city of Holon, as a result of this morning's ballistic missile attack by Iran. pic.twitter.com/oD06D9cXSr
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 19, 2025
Explosions were also heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. In Tel Aviv, a missile hit a high-rise building and several other residential buildings in at least two locations, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service. At least 240 people were wounded in the various attacks around Israel, AP reports, citing Israel's Health Ministry.
#Israel Tel Aviv this morning pic.twitter.com/4Or6aRkW02
— C4H10FO2P
(@markito0171) June 19, 2025
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange building after Iran's missile strike this morning. pic.twitter.com/q5TDp9P0qa
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 19, 2025
There are suggestions that Iran could be poised to attack Israeli nuclear facilities. Reports in the Israeli media state that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued an evacuation order for Israeli citizens living close to the Dimona nuclear plant.
BREAKING: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issues evacuation warning for area where Israel's Dimona nuclear plant is located, Iranian media reports pic.twitter.com/XKh7FyEnp9
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 19, 2025
Another option available to Iran, and one which we analyzed in the past, involves closing down the Strait of Hormuz, the marine artery through which around 20 percent of daily global oil exports pass. The option was raised by a member of the Iranian Parliament National Security Committee presidium, Behnam Saeedi, who was quoted by the semi-official Mehr news agency.
BREAKING: Iranian MP Saeedi: Closing the Strait of Hormuz is one of Iran's possible options.
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 19, 2025
Iran has in the past threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz to traffic in retaliation for Western pressure, and shipping sources say that commercial ships are avoiding Iran's waters around the strait.
Iran continues to warn off the United States from more actively supporting Israel in the conflict, which could include kinetic attacks.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said that if the United States wants to become more involved in the conflict on behalf of Israel, Iran would be forced to defend itself.
'If the United States wants to actively enter the field in favour of the Zionist regime, Iran will have to use its tools to both teach a lesson to aggressors and defend its national security and national interests,' Gharibabadi said. 'Naturally, our military decision makers have all the necessary options on the table.'
Gharibabadi claimed that Iran never wanted a war, and never sought to expand any conflict.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei provided similar warnings.
Khamenei said Israel had made a 'huge mistake' by starting the war and warned the United States against becoming involved. 'The Americans should know that any U.S. military intervention will undoubtedly be accompanied by irreparable damage,' he said in a statement read out by a presenter on state TV.
Were the U.S. military to become involved in the conflict with a kinetic campaign, the deeply buried Iranian nuclear facility in Fordow has been widely earmarked as a target. This was reinforced today in an article co-written by former Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.
'Israel has done most of the work. Only Trump can finish it,' Gallant said. He added that the facility in Fordow remains intact and only the U.S. military can destroy it. 'Only the U.S. can do this, and only President Trump can order it,' he added.
Former Israeli Defense Minister Gallant: Israel will not be able to destroy the Fordow reactor alone. Only the US Air Force can do it. pic.twitter.com/zWx6nbWiXP
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 19, 2025
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi have spoken by phone several times since the conflict began last Friday to reach a diplomatic solution to end the crisis. This was reported by Reuters, which cited three unnamed diplomats.
According to the same diplomats, Araqchi said that Tehran would not return to negotiations unless Israel stopped the attacks.
The talks apparently included discussion of a U.S. proposal offered to Tehran in which a regional consortium would be set up to enrich uranium outside Iran. Tehran has so far rejected that offer.
#BREAKING White House confirms special envoy Steve Witkoff, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have been in contact amid ongoing tit-for-tat attacks between Israel and Iran pic.twitter.com/BpevdL7GNu
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) June 19, 2025
Other international efforts to try and bring the conflict to an end have involved German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has previously voiced support for Israeli military attacks on Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
Merz reportedly had a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he called for moderation in Israel's campaign against Iran. This was reported by Reuters today, citing an unnamed German government source.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for more moderation in Israel's campaign against Iran, a German government source told the Reuters news agency.
LIVE updates: https://t.co/EiEjQYT1ZMpic.twitter.com/doVQpj8tOy
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 19, 2025
This is a developing story. Stay with The War Zone for updates.American Airlines has suspended any further flights to Doha, in Qatar, its only destination in the Middle East. The airline cites safety and security concerns due to the escalating tensions in the region.
'American Airlines has made adjustments to its Doha, Qatar (DOH) operation, temporarily suspending flights between DOH and Philadelphia (PHL) until Sunday, June 22,' the airline said in a statement. 'We will continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation further as needed.'
Meanwhile, United Airlines has suspended its daily flight to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
American Airlines has suspended any further flights to Doha, Qatar, and United Airlines has suspended its daily flight to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, as the war between Israel and Iran continues to escalate in the Middle East. pic.twitter.com/Fo46QMiubT
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 19, 2025
Quoting the Israeli Defense Ministry, The Times of Israel reports that several cargo aircraft carrying arms and other military equipment for the service touched down in Israel today. The ministry said the delivery was 'part of efforts to strengthen operational continuity and support all the IDF's needs, both for achieving the goals of the war and for improving readiness and stockpiles.'
The same report notes that, since the start of Operation Rising Lion, Iran, 14 cargo aircraft with equipment for the IDF have landed in Israel. Most of these aircraft have flown from the United States.
Several cargo planes carrying armaments and military equipment for the IDF landed in Israel today, the Defense Ministry says.The ministry says the delivery is "part of efforts to strengthen operational continuity and support all the IDF's needs, both for achieving the goals of… pic.twitter.com/Pk6aYq2gBp
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 19, 2025
The White House has reportedly refuted claims made in a report in The Guardian that the United States has doubts about whether its arsenal of bunker-busting munitions would be sufficient to destroy the Iranian nuclear facility at Fordow. At the same time, officials apparently confirm that no options have been taken off the table for potential attacks on hardened targets like these. That would include tactical nuclear weapons, too.
The Guardian report had claimed that President Trump was not fully convinced that the 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker-buster bomb — America's most powerful conventional munition — would effectively eliminate Fordow, contributing to him holding off on ordering airstrikes.
A White House official tells me the contents of this report are false – that the US military has no doubt about the efficacy of bunker busters in eliminating the site at Fordow, also denying that any options (including tactical nukes) have been taken off the table.…
— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) June 19, 2025
The U.S. assessment of Iran's nuclear program has not changed since March, when the director of national intelligence told lawmakers that Tehran has large amounts of enriched uranium but has not made a decision to rush toward building an atomic bomb, according to the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee and a source with knowledge of the matter.
Comments by President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have painted a different picture, suggesting that Iran is racing toward creating a nuclear weapon.There is now some debate at the very highest levels about exactly how far Iran has progressed with its efforts to produce a functional nuclear weapon.
Yesterday, President Trump said that Iran was 'a few weeks' from having a nuclear weapon, while Prime Minister Netanyahu recently talked about Iran pursuing a 'secret plan' to build a bomb within months.
Meanwhile, Senator Mark, a Virginia Democrat and the vice chair of the Intelligence Committee, has suggested that Trump's prognosis is very different from that of U.S. intelligence officials.
'So far, at least, the intelligence community has stood by its conclusion that Iran is not moving towards a nuclear weapon. They were enriching additional uranium, but they were not weaponizing that yet, and that [decision] was left with the supreme leader,' Warner said, in words reported by NBC.
Japan has confirmed that it will forward-deploy a pair of Kawasaki C-2 transport aircraft to Djibouti to prepare for evacuating Japanese nationals from Israel and Iran, if required.
Japanese Minister of Defense Gen. Nakatani said today that the C-2s will be on standby in the northeast African country, where they have been dispatched at the request of Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya.
Japanese Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani has announced that the Japan Air Self-Defense Force will be deploying two C-2 military transport aircrafts to Djibouti in Eastern Africa, to organize and stage for the evacuation of roughly 1,000 Japanese nationals that are currently… pic.twitter.com/WntgGQ00WC
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 19, 2025
There are claims out of Israel that threatening phone calls have been made to various Israeli political figures over the past week, presumed to have originated in or been inspired by Iran.
'The callers, speaking in Hebrew, in some cases appeared to know exactly who they were calling as they vowed Iran would destroy Israel with missile attacks,' a report in The Times of Israel said.
Report: Iran making threatening phone calls to Israeli political figures https://t.co/IqUsE7pbtM
— The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael) June 19, 2025
The photo in the tweet embedded below, said to be taken today at Prestwick Airport, Scotland, shows four of seven U.S. Air Force C-17A Globemaster III transports on the ground there as U.S. military air assets — tankers, transports, and fighters — continue to flow into Europe and then move forward to the Middle East.
Incredible scenes at #PrestwickAirport in Scotland with a total of 7 USAF C-17s in the ground including four parked on the secondary runway. A significant amount of heavy lift capability as the US military mobilisation continues #AvGeek #RadioGeek #MilMonWorld pic.twitter.com/WfrMUcfZGn
— Military Monitoring World (@MilMonWorld) June 19, 2025Purported footage from Iran indicates that Israeli strikes on the capital have resumed as night falls on the country.
Precise strikes are currently targeting specific sites within the Iranian capital, Tehran. pic.twitter.com/i0N0Bod8b7
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) June 19, 2025
NEW
A fire has broken out in the southeastern mountains of Shiraz, Iran, according to local reports. pic.twitter.com/JflTZoVLi3
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) June 19, 2025Amid calls from Israel and the United States for Iran's 'unconditional surrender,' the role of Russia in the ongoing crisis has been somewhat unclear. While Moscow has expressed concern about the fate of Iran, there has been a general acknowledgment that Russia has only a limited ability to influence the unfolding events. A little more about the state of Iran-Russia relations has been revealed in recent statements from President Vladimir Putin.
Putin said that Iran has not requested Russian help so far, but noted that, 'If the situation escalates, we'll see if they will need help.'
The Russian leader added that there is no 'defense clause' in any agreements between Russia and Iran. 'Iran did not want to cooperate with Russia on air defense previously. Iran fights the fight alone; they're proud and want to be self-reliant,' Putin added.
NEW:
Putin on the situation with Iran:"Iran didn't want our help, If the situation escalates, we'll see if they will need help""Iran agreement does not have a defense clause. Iran does not ask Russia for help. Iran did not want to cooperate with Russia on air defense… pic.twitter.com/KgzDe6sdhv
— Megatron (@Megatron_ron) June 19, 2025
As for Russian assistance for the Iranian nuclear program, Putin said that over 200 Russian experts are currently helping build two more nuclear reactor units at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran. 'We have agreed with the Israeli leadership that their safety will be ensured,' Putin said. The Russian leader also claimed that, despite Israeli airstrikes, Iran's underground plants exist. 'Nothing happened to them,' he added.
Putin:"Over 200 Russian experts are currently helping build two more nuclear reactor units at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran. And we have agreed with the Israeli leadership that their safety will be ensured."Is Russia helping Iran with its nuclear program?Is Russia… https://t.co/xW7BxuGanl pic.twitter.com/mVtD7uNWzt
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 19, 2025Some analysis from our editor-in-chief on the current state of play:
Reality is every day Israel does the work alone, the direct risk to U.S. aircrews and assets and personnel in the region goes down should the U.S. jump in with kinetic effects. Oh there is still risk, it's war, so much is unforeseeable. But this is just the reality of waiting.
Every hour that passes, Iran's air defenses (which are still a threat, albeit a greatly diminished one) and arsenal degrades. Command and control is under increasing pressure, although there is risk of some recovery there with time if the pressure is let off. Big question is where does Iran's short-range ballistic missile, one-way-attack drone, and cruise missile capability sit? Has it been degraded substantially too? If not, that is what is the greatest risk to the region, not the MRBM/IRBMs we are seeing being used against Israel, which are much harder to hide and disperse. What about Iran's Navy?
So does a decision need to be made right now? No. And arguably the U.S. benefits from waiting, balanced against the risks.
I realize some won't like this explanation due to personal positions and politics, but my job is to tell it to you straight. That's the lay of the land as it sits, like it or not.
The U.S. could up its non kinetic support in the meantime with lower risk of major reaction. Supply tanker support to the IAF. Would make huge difference in velocity of the conflict. Even if some of this is happening now clandestinely, it cannot match doing it in the open at scale.
In addition, more time, even a day or two, will allow more assets to be moved into place to best execute any orders and defend against any blowback. This includes the Nimitz carrier strike group that is in the Indian Ocean now on its way to the CENTCOM area of responsibility.
Reality is every day Israel does the work alone, the direct risk to U.S. aircrews and assets and personnel in the region goes down should the U.S. jump in with kinetic effects. Oh there is still risk, it's war, so much is unforeseeable. But this is just the reality of waiting.
— Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) June 19, 2025
Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

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The first day of June was 'such a breath of fresh air,' as Pride Month kicked off amid President Donald Trump's second term, said Leah Peksenak, president of NWI Pridefest Inc. 'It's been such a stressful year, stressful since last November, and it was just so nice to take a second and prioritize joy for a little bit. Even though it's not like you forget all of the things that are happening and what's at stake, not just for LGBT people but for so many vulnerable communities, but it is nice to just take a second and say joy is itself a revolutionary thing,' Peksenak said. Trump has taken action against the LGBTQ+ community in many ways, like signing an executive order stating that the U.S. only recognizes two genders, a transgender servicemember military ban, and banning transgender athletes from collegiate sports. The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The court's 6-3 decision effectively prevents legal challenges to efforts by Trump's administration and state governments to roll back protections for transgender people, as 26 other states have laws similar to Tennessee's. Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith called Pride Month a 'rainbow beast' on social media and how it's coming for children. Beckwith's words depicting the LGBTQ+ community as predators give people permission to violently target the members of that community, Peksenak said. 'Nobody cares what happens to predators. Nobody cares what happens to pedophiles. So if you tell people, 'oh these people are targeting children, they are harming children, they are a beast that's coming for your kid,' some unstable person is going to hear that as a mandate to do something about it. That's frightening,' Peksenak said. Jeremy Gregson, the entertainment director for NWI Pridefest Inc., said entering Pride Month was nerve-wrecking this year, especially as the organization planned its second annual pride festival in Lake Station earlier this month. The organization took extra precautions this year, he said. 'There was a heightened sense of security,' Gregson said. 'There was some nervousness, some anxiety. But for my community, I had to step up. I had to show, on my face, that there was no anxiety because others feed off that.' The organization raised about $12,000 for Indiana Youth Group over the course of the two-day festival, Peksenak said. But, there was a bit of a challenge securing organizations to be vendors for this year's festival because so many organizations are stretched thin supporting marginalized communities targeted by the federal government, Peksenak said. 'It's like we're at empathy capacity right now because there's so many areas to care about and focus on,' Peksenak said. The actions against the LGBTQ+ community by the Trump administration are disheartening, but the community will continue to fight for rights and access, Gregson said. 'It makes me sick that we're going backwards instead of going forward,' Gregson said. Earlier this month, Southern Baptist delegates at their national meeting overwhelmingly endorsed a ban on same-sex marriage — including a call for a reversal of the U.S. Supreme Court's 10-year-old precedent legalizing it nationwide. The wide-ranging resolution doesn't use the word ban, but it left no room for legal same-sex marriage in calling for the 'overturning of laws and court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, that defy God's design for marriage and family.' Further, the resolution affirmatively calls 'for laws that affirm marriage between one man and one woman.' Gregson said the church's endorsement scares him because he's currently engaged. 'My wonderful fiancé has already stated no man is ever going to stop him and I from being happily ever after,' Gregson said. 'I would hope that the Supreme Court would never want to hear the case again. But knowing who is sitting on the Supreme Court, could it be likely they would? Maybe.' If the Supreme Court did hear the case, Gregson said the LGBTQ+ community would hit the streets and the intensity would likely be that of the Stonewall Riots in 1969, where protestors and police clashed after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar, in New York City. The riots were a catalyst for the gay rights movement throughout the world. Regardless of the Supreme Court's potential action, Gregson said he will be with his partner. 'He's mine. I'm his. No judgment is going to make me not be with the man I love,' Gregson said. 'I think the Supreme Court sees it as we're human, and at the end of the day that's all we want to be treated like.' Peksenak, who is also a reverend at Marquette Park United Methodist Church and Hobart First United Methodist Church, said both parishes have people who support and oppose the Trump Administration. Similarly, Peksenak said she's aware that not all parishioners support her involvement in LGBTQ+ activism. When she preaches, Peksenak said she tries her best to speak to different situations in life, different scripture passages to avoid being 'a one note.' But, she said she also focuses on not compromising her beliefs and values. Peksenak said she tells parishioners that she doesn't have more access to God than they do, and that they can disagree with her. But, she said at the end of the day, Peksenak said as the spiritual leader of the church she has to stick to her convictions and speak to Biblical and current events. At its core, Peksenak said the church is following someone who was executed by the state for speaking his mind and supporting oppressed people. So the church has an obligation to follow that path, she said. 'I have been adamant in my stance that I understand that it might be uncomfortable when we talk about LGBT issues, I understand that it might be uncomfortable if immigration is mentioned in a sermon, but to preach a message that doesn't have anything to do with what's happening in the world today is pointless,' Peksenak said. With increased political and social attacks on the LGTBQ+ community, Peksenak said it's important that people show support for the community. 'The more that powerful people spew hate, that increases our mandate to love and love loudly. It becomes even more urgent that we go out of our way to do as much good as we can, to love and care for and protect this community.' Peksenak said.