It was simply on Thursday that President Donald Trump mentioned he would determine “throughout the subsequent two weeks” on whether or not to order a U.S. army strike on Iran’s nuclear amenities — ostensibly to offer diplomacy an opportunity, no less than quickly.
“Primarily based on the truth that there’s a considerable likelihood of negotiations that will or could not happen with Iran within the close to future, I’ll make my resolution whether or not or to not go throughout the subsequent two weeks,” Trump mentioned in a press release learn to reporters by White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
On Friday, requested by a reporter to clarify his considering, he responded it was to offer time for the Iranians to “come to their senses.”
President Donald Trump makes his technique to board Air Pressure One at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, on June 21, 2025, as he returns to the White Home from his golf membership in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Mandel Ngan/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
The president additionally dismissed the talks held in Geneva Friday between European diplomats and Iran’s international minister Abbas Araghchi, taking part in down the already low expectations for a breakthrough.
“They did not assist,” Trump mentioned of the discussions. “Iran does not need to converse to Europe. They need to converse to us. Europe shouldn’t be going to have the ability to assist on this one.”
Iran’s International Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks to the media after his assembly with the E3 group of European ministers, June 20, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Sedat Suna/Getty Pictures
He added, “we’re prepared, keen and ready and have been talking to Iran and we’ll see what occurs.”
When a reporter requested, “Does Iran have two weeks or might you strike earlier than that? Are you primarily giving them a two-week timeline?” Trump answered, “Properly I’m giving them a time frame. We will see what that time frame is. However I am giving them a time frame, and I’d say two weeks could be the utmost.”
In current days, Iran has rebuffed a standing provide from the united statesto resume nuclear negotiations.
The president’s announcement Thursday a few attainable delay in hitting Iran annoyed Israeli officers, who’ve been privately pushing their case for U.S. army involvement for months, in accordance with officers accustomed to the matter.
In the meantime, as sharp variations between Israeli and American assessments on Iran’s nuclear talents got here to the forefront, Trump additionally showcased mistrust for his personal intelligence neighborhood, together with his personal director of nationwide intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.
On Friday, Trump was requested about Gabbard’s testimony to Congress in March that the U.S. assessed that Iran was not “constructing” a nuclear weapon and that Supreme Chief Ali Khamenei had not approved the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003.
“She’s incorrect,” Trump mentioned flatly.
Shortly after Trump spoke, Gabbard criticized the information media, posting on X, “America has intelligence that Iran is on the level that it may possibly produce a nuclear weapon inside weeks to months, in the event that they determine to finalize the meeting. President Trump has been clear that may’t occur, and I agree.”
President Donald Trump addresses the nation, alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth from the White Home in Washington, June 21, 2025.
Carlos Barria/Reuters
Chatting with the nation late Saturday evening — about two hours after he introduced the strikes — Trump mentioned, “Iran, the bully of the Center East, should now make peace. If they don’t, future assaults might be far larger and rather a lot simpler.”
