The White House has cautioned that Iran may be weeks away from a nuclear weapon as President Donald Trump weighs the possibility of US involvement in the growing conflict between Israel and Iran.
Addressing a regular press briefing on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Iran possesses all the ingredients to create a nuclear weapon and would require only a go-ahead from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to do so. “It would take about a couple of weeks to finish making that weapon,” she claimed.
President Trump will make a decision in the next two weeks as to whether the United States will enter Israel’s military effort against Iran. Leavitt confirmed that Trump is still willing to use diplomacy, but emphasized his resolve to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons. “He is the ‘peace through strength’ president,” she noted. “If there’s an opportunity for diplomacy, the president’s always going to reach for it but he’s not intimidated to use strength.”
Leavitt refused to explain if Trump would ask for congressional approval for a possible strike, but signaled “high stakes” for Iran if it persisted in its nuclear pursuits.
The situation worsened in the region on Thursday after Israeli warplanes destroyed nuclear-related sites in Iran, triggering retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Israel. The two nations also continue to be in an unstable standoff, with no apparent way to de-escalate.
As global concern grows, Reuters reported that Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has engaged in several phone calls with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in recent days, discussing potential diplomatic avenues.
While Trump has oscillated between bombastic threats even a threat to kill Khamenei and diplomatic approaches, the world holds its breath as Washington deliberates next action in one of the most volatile Middle East hotspots in recent history.