White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that President Donald Trump will make a decision on the U.S. becoming involved in Israel's conflict with Iran within the next two weeks.
"I have a message directly from the president, and I quote, '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, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,'" Leavitt said at a White House briefing quoting Trump.
"He's been very clear," she added. "Iran went for 60 days when he gave them that 60-day warning without coming to the table. On day 61, Israel took action against Iran. And as I just told you from the president directly, he will make a decision within two weeks in."
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Leavitt said that there have been six rounds of direct and indirect negotiations with Iran. She said that talks continue but declined to provide details.
Asked if Trump would strike Iran if negotiations fail, Leavitt repeatedly said the president would make a decision "whether or not to go" within the next two weeks.
When pressed about the reliability of that timeline, given previous delays on other global matters, Leavitt insisted that the conflicts are different.
"President Trump inherited global instability from the last administration. He is always interested in diplomacy but not afraid to use strength," Leavitt said.
Leavitt said that Iran cannot attain a nuclear bomb because it would pose a threat to the United States and Israel. She said Iran is weeks away from achieving such a weapon.
"Iran has never been closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon," Leavitt said.
"Iran has all that it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon. All they need is a decision from the Supreme Leader to do that," Leavitt told reporters. "And it would take a couple of weeks to complete the production of that weapon, which would, of course, pose an existential threat not just to Israel, but to the United States and to the entire world."
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She said the president's top priorities are ensuring that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon and providing peace and stability in the Middle East.
"Nobody should be surprised by the president's position that Iran absolutely cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. He has been unequivocally clear about this for decades, not just as president, not just as a presidential candidate, but also as a private citizen."
She also called on the public to trust the president's instincts amid some dissenting voices among his base.
"Trust in President Trump. President Trump has incredible instincts and President Trump kept America and the world safe in his first term implementing a peace through strength foreign policy agenda," Leavitt said.
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Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Wednesday, Trump declined to say if he had made a decision on the U.S. joining Israel's military campaign.
"I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do," he said. Trump also said this week that Iran must "make a deal now - or face even more brutal military action."
Israel launched an attack on Iran on Friday, targeting its nuclear facilities and taking out some of the country's top military generals. Iran has been responding by hitting Tel Aviv and other locations.
An Iranian missile barrage hit the Soroka Hospital on Thursday morning, injuring more than 70 people, Israel said.
Israeli Foreign Minster Gideon Sa'ar said that the Iranian attack amounts to a war crime, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation for the strike.
