It was once simply on Thursday that President Donald Trump mentioned he would make a decision “throughout the subsequent two weeks” on whether or not to reserve a U.S. army strike on Iran’s nuclear amenities — ostensibly to offer international relations a possibility, no less than briefly.
“In keeping with the truth that there’s a considerable probability of negotiations that can or won’t happen with Iran within the close to long term, I can make my resolution whether or not or to not cross throughout the subsequent two weeks,” Trump mentioned in a observation learn to newshounds by means of White Area press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
On Friday, requested by means of a reporter to provide an explanation for his pondering, he answered it was once 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 Area from his golfing membership in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Mandel Ngan/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
The president additionally pushed aside the talks held in Geneva Friday between Ecu diplomats and Iran’s overseas minister Abbas Araghchi, taking part in down the already low expectancies for a step forward.
“They did not lend a hand,” Trump mentioned of the discussions. “Iran does not need to discuss to Europe. They need to discuss to us. Europe isn’t going so that you can lend a hand on this one.”
Iran’s International Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks to the media after his assembly with the E3 workforce of Ecu ministers, June 20, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Sedat Suna/Getty Pictures
He added, “we’re able, keen and ready and feature been chatting with Iran and we will see what occurs.”
When a reporter requested, “Does Iran have two weeks or may you strike sooner than that? Are you necessarily giving them a two-week timeline?” Trump spoke back, “Neatly I’m giving them a time period. We are going to see what that time period is. However I am giving them a time period, and I’d say two weeks will be the most.”
In fresh days, Iran has rebuffed a status be offering from the united statesto resume nuclear negotiations.
The president’s announcement Thursday a few imaginable extend in hitting Iran annoyed Israeli officers, who’ve been privately pushing their case for U.S. army involvement for months, in step with officers aware of the topic.
In the meantime, as sharp variations between Israeli and American exams on Iran’s nuclear skills got here to the leading edge, Trump additionally showcased mistrust for his personal intelligence group, together with his personal director of nationwide intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.
On Friday, Trump was once requested about Gabbard’s testimony to Congress in March that the U.S. assessed that Iran was once now not “development” a nuclear weapon and that Excellent Chief Ali Khamenei had now not approved the nuclear guns program he suspended in 2003.
“She’s improper,” Trump mentioned flatly.
In a while after Trump spoke, Gabbard criticized the scoop media, posting on X, “The united states has intelligence that Iran is on the level that it may produce a nuclear weapon inside of weeks to months, in the event that they make a decision to finalize the meeting. President Trump has been transparent that may’t occur, and I agree.”
President Donald Trump addresses the country, along Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth from the White Area in Washington, June 21, 2025.
Carlos Barria/Reuters
Chatting with the country past due Saturday evening — about two hours after he introduced the moves — Trump mentioned, “Iran, the bully of the Center East, will have to now make peace. If they don’t, long term assaults can be a long way larger and so much more straightforward.”
