U.S. President Donald Trump will decide on whether he will order a strike against Iran in the next two weeks, as aerial conflict between Israel and Iran continues one week after a surprise attack by Israel. Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiation that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go in the next two weeks, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing on Thursday. Iran must agree to no enrichment of uranium, and Tehran must not be able to achieve a nuclear weapon as part of any diplomatic agreement, Leavitt read a statement from Trump. Correspondence between the United States and Iran has continued as the two sides engage in negotiations, Leavitt said, echoing Thursday reports that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have talked by phone several times since Israel began its strikes on Iran on June 13, in a bid to find a diplomatic end to the crisis. Araghchi told Witkoff that Tehran could show flexibility in the nuclear issue if the U.S. government pressured Israel to end the war, adding Tehran would not return to negotiations unless Israel stopped the attacks, local media quoted a regional diplomat. Trump approved attack plans on Iran Tuesday night, but held off making a final decision in case Iran agrees to abandon its nuclear program, media reported. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that the country remains steadfast amid its conflict with Israel and will not surrender to anyone amid pressure, warning that any American military intervention would cause irreparable damage. Since June 13, Israel has launched large-scale airstrikes on multiple locations in Iran, targeting nuclear facilities and military sites, resulting in heavy casualties. In retaliation, Iran carried out multiple rounds of missile and drone attacks on various targets inside Israel. The aerial conflict has yet shown no sign of easing as it drags into a second week. On Thursday, Israel and Iran exchanged major airstrikes overnight, targeting each other's critical infrastructure and military facilities. The Israel Defense Forces announced in a statement on Thursday that it had launched a broad aerial campaign across Iran, including strikes targeting the inactive Arak nuclear reactor in western Iran, and a nuclear weapons development site in Natanz, central Iran. In addition to nuclear-related targets, Israeli warplanes reportedly struck a range of military production sites across Iran, including factories manufacturing ballistic missile components, facilities assembling Iranian air defense systems and various logistical infrastructures, the statement said.
