US President Donald Trump on Thursday said a decision on potential American military intervention in Iran would be made within two weeks. The statement is made amid escalating tensions after Israel’s strikes against Iran and concerns that Tehran is closing in on nuclear weapon capabilities.
Speaking through White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump said the decision would depend on the possibility of fresh negotiations with Iran. “There’s a substantial chance of negotiations in the near future. Based on that, the president will decide within the next two weeks,” Leavitt said during a press briefing.
Leavitt further commented that Iran can perhaps “a couple of weeks” away from creating a nuclear weapon, awaiting a go-ahead signal from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. She stressed that Iran already has the required materials but needs only the go-ahead to proceed.
Trump’s comment is in the face of Republican infighting. Powerful voices within his “America First” movement, such as Steve Bannon, have cautioned against US action with no diplomatic solution. “We can’t have another Iraq,” Bannon said, also specifying that Israel should deal with its own war against Iran.
Other senior Trump allies, such as Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and commentator Tucker Carlson, have also warned against interference. Other Republicans, however, echoed Trump’s view that Iran’s nuclear program should be halted at all costs.
Leavitt explained that international consensus stands resolute against Iran obtaining nuclear capability, noting concurrence from the likes of Russia. She noted that the weapon would be an “existential threat” to the world and not only to the United States or Israel.
Trump’s move will arguably determine the next stage of a war thus far contained within Iran and Israel but which could very soon involve wider international engagement.