The White House confirmed Friday that President Donald Trump will make a final decision within the next two weeks on whether the United States will directly join Israel in a military strike aimed at neutralizing Iran’s nuclear program, escalating global concerns about a broader conflict in the Middle East.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered the announcement during a briefing, reading a statement directly attributed to the president.
“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,” Leavitt quoted Trump, “I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.”
This marks the first official timeline provided by the administration following weeks of speculation about American military involvement in response to mounting Israeli-Iranian hostilities.
Tensions at a Boiling Point
The decision comes on the heels of a deadly missile strike Thursday night, in which Iranian projectiles struck a hospital in Beersheba in southern Israel and damaged several residential buildings near Tel Aviv. Israeli health authorities report that at least 240 people were wounded in the attacks, with dozens still in critical condition.
In response, Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant made one of the most inflammatory remarks from an Israeli official in recent years, saying Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “absolutely should not continue to exist.” The comment, seen by many as signaling a possible Israeli decapitation strike, further complicates diplomatic efforts and intensifies pressure on the U.S. to act.
Fordo Facility in Crosshairs
At the heart of the debate is Iran’s uranium enrichment facility near Fordo — a deeply buried and heavily fortified site widely believed to be central to Iran's nuclear ambitions. U.S. intelligence officials have told lawmakers in classified briefings that Iran may be within weeks of reaching weapons-grade enrichment levels, if it has not already done so. Only America’s most advanced bunker-buster bombs are believed to be capable of reaching the facility.
Administration sources say Trump has been presented with multiple military options, including joint strikes with Israel or a limited series of precision attacks conducted solely by U.S. forces.
Netanyahu Praises Trump, Affirms Partnership
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded swiftly to the White House announcement, praising President Trump and emphasizing Israel’s readiness to act.
“President Trump will do what’s best for America. I trust his judgment. He’s a tremendous friend, a tremendous world leader, a tremendous friend of Israel and the Jewish people,” Netanyahu said during a televised address. “We are committed to destroying the nuclear threat… And we are doing it.”
Netanyahu confirmed that he and Trump have been in frequent contact — “almost every day” — and reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-Israel alliance.
Domestic and Global Reaction
The potential for a U.S. strike has already drawn sharp reactions at home and abroad. Critics in Congress, including members of both parties, have urged the president to prioritize diplomacy, warning of the risks of triggering a wider regional war. Iran’s military capabilities, combined with its influence over proxy forces in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, could make any U.S. strike a potential ignition point for massive retaliation.
China and Russia, both of whom maintain relations with Tehran, have issued statements urging restraint and condemning any unilateral military action not authorized by the U.N. Security Council.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has quietly increased its presence in the eastern Mediterranean, with at least one aircraft carrier strike group repositioned in recent days, along with additional long-range bomber deployments to the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Looking Ahead
With a two-week countdown now in motion, global attention is sharply focused on Washington. The president’s decision could shape the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East for years to come.
