In the next two weeks, President Donald Trump will determine whether or not the United States will participate with Israel in its current air campaign against Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced yesterday, on June 19, 2025. The announcement made at a press briefing referred to a “substantial chance of negotiations” with Iran as an influence on Trump’s timeline, although the president has remained evasive about details.

The escalation, now in its second week, intensified overnight with Israel’s attacks on Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor, creating a big hole in its dome in the aftermath, and Iran’s retaliation in areas like Haifa and Tel Aviv, including a strike on Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba that left 71 people injured.

Trump, in an interview in the Oval Office on June 19, reiterated his stance that Iran “just can’t have a nuclear weapon,” hinting at potential U.S. strikes on Iran’s fortified Fordow enrichment site, which can only be effectively targeted by U.S. bunker-buster bombs.

Trump’s rhetoric has become sharper since a June 18 Truth Social post claiming “complete and total control of the skies over Iran” and calling Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei an “easy target,” although, he continued on, “We are not going to take him out, at least not for now.” This followed the rejection of an Israeli plan to kill Khamenei.

The U.S. has also strengthened its regional presence, deploying the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier, additional warplanes, and refueling aircraft, indicating readiness for possible offensive actions. On the contrary, Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have also had phone conversations, indicating diplomatic channels are still in place. European leaders from Germany, France, and the UK are meeting Araghchi in Geneva on June 20 to urge nuclear talks, although U.S. officials seem doubtful about their efficacy.

As Israel continues its attack, with Netanyahu vowing to “shatter” Khamenei’s regime, Trump’s two-week window has opened a brief diplomatic pause, though analysts warn the risk of U.S. entanglement remains high. The president’s next steps will shape the conflict’s trajectory and test his “America First” promise to avoid foreign wars.