President Donald Trump is expected to decide in the next two weeks whether the United States will take military action in response to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“If there’s a chance for diplomacy, the president is always going to grab it,” Leavitt told reporters. “But he’s not afraid to use strength.”
Conditions for Negotiations
Leavitt said there is still a “substantial chance of negotiations” with Iran, but made clear that any agreement would need to include strict conditions — chiefly, a complete ban on uranium enrichment and the dismantling of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear infrastructure.
Fox News has more on the latest timeline — and the potential off-ramp proposed by the White House:
“I have a message directly from the president, and I quote, ‘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,'” Leavitt said at a White House briefing quoting Trump.
“He’s been very clear,” she added. “Iran went for 60 days when he gave them that a 60-day warning without coming to the table. On day 61, Israel took action against Iran. And as I just told you from the president directly, he will make a decision within two weeks in.”
Leavitt said that there have been six rounds of direct and indirect negotiations with Iran. She said that talks continue but declined to provide details.
Asked if Trump would strike Iran if negotiations fail, Leavitt repeatedly said the president would make a decision “whether or not to go” within the next two weeks.
A significant majority of MAGA voters (65%) back a U.S. strike on Iran’s military if deemed necessary, according to a JL Partners/New York Post poll.
Prominent figures like Sen. Lindsey Graham, Charlie Kirk, and Pete Hegseth are calling for bold action—whether through direct military strikes or unwavering support for Israel—warning of the dangers posed by an unchecked nuclear Iran.
But a powerful faction within the MAGA movement — including Steve Bannon, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tucker Carlson, and Sen. Rand Paul — vehemently opposes deeper U.S. entanglement abroad, often citing Trump’s “America First” doctrine.
Bannon and Carlson, in particular, have publicly sparred with fellow conservatives, warning that U.S. military intervention could fracture the movement and betray the populist base that fueled Trump’s rise.
Iran Issues Warning on Outside Involvement
Almost simultaneous with Leavitt’s remarks, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council released a statement vowing that the “confrontation with the enemy [Israel] will continue, until the compensation is paid.” The council also warned that any third-party involvement would be met with an “immediate” response “according to a specific plan.”
Though the statement did not mention the United States by name, it was widely interpreted as a warning to Washington against intervening on Israel’s behalf.
READ NEXT: Arnold Drops Truth Bomb On ‘The View’ — They Panic
Delay to confuse Iran & allies alone
Hope IDF is in on Delay choice