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Politics

Trump to Decide on Iran Military Action Within Two Weeks

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Trump to Decide on Iran Military Action Within Two Weeks

As missiles tear through hospitals in Israel and fire rains down on Iranian nuclear sites, the world finds itself at the edge of a potentially catastrophic tipping point. At its center stands U.S. President Donald Trump, who says he will decide within two weeks whether to join Israel’s campaign against Iran militarily. His choice could either steer the world toward a fragile diplomatic breakthrough or deepen one of the most dangerous confrontations the Middle East has faced in decades.

A War Waiting for Washington

The Israeli-Iranian air war, now in its second week, has already claimed hundreds of lives across both nations. A direct Iranian missile strike on Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba wounded 80 people and inflamed Israeli leadership. In retaliation, Israeli warplanes pounded Iranian nuclear sites, including the Arak heavy water reactor and suspected weapons facilities near Natanz.

But amid the smoke and fire, all eyes have turned to Washington. Trump’s White House says a final decision on U.S. involvement will come soon, citing a “substantial chance” for diplomacy. However, the president has kept allies and adversaries guessing, fluctuating between calls for unconditional Iranian surrender and hints at possible negotiations.

For now, Trump is walking a strategic tightrope: amplifying military pressure while dangling the possibility of talks. It’s a familiar Trump tactic—stall, bluff, and strike only when leverage is maximized.

Diplomacy at Gunpoint

Trump’s spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, says the president’s top priority is ensuring that Iran never develops a nuclear weapon. But Trump’s intelligence chief, Tulsi Gabbard, testified just three months ago that Tehran was not actively pursuing a nuclear warhead.

Still, Leavitt insisted this week that Iran could be weeks away from producing a bomb. That claim, though unverified, echoes Israel’s assessments and serves a vital function: justifying the urgency of a possible strike.

Inside Iran, fears are mounting. According to Iranian human rights groups, more than 600 people have died in recent Israeli strikes, including over 260 civilians. Iran’s response—over 450 missiles and 1,000 drones—has pushed Israel into full defensive mobilization. Despite Israel’s Iron Dome success, more than two dozen citizens have been killed and hundreds injured.

Even so, Trump’s calculus seems focused less on the immediate human toll and more on long-term leverage. “I may do it, I may not do it,” he told reporters cryptically. The ambiguity, by design, keeps both Iran and Congress off balance.

Internal Fault Lines and Global Pressure

Trump’s decision is not only about Iran or Israel. It’s also about America’s global credibility, congressional oversight, and the fissures within his own political base.

Traditional hawks urge him to strike—some calling for direct attacks on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But isolationist Republicans and war-weary Democrats alike warn that bypassing Congress to launch a strike could unravel constitutional norms. As Senator Chris Murphy put it bluntly: “No one believes this ‘two weeks’ bit… It just makes America look weak and silly.”

Meanwhile, Trump’s allies in Europe are scrambling to salvage what remains of diplomacy. Foreign ministers from Germany, France, and Britain are meeting Iranian counterparts in Geneva, urging a ceasefire and return to negotiations. The United Nations and the Red Cross have condemned attacks on hospitals, while the World Health Organization has called on all parties to respect medical neutrality under international law.

A Defining Choice—And Legacy

The gravity of the coming decision cannot be overstated. If Trump chooses to join Israel militarily, it will mark the first direct U.S. strikes on Iran—an act that would likely ignite regional retaliation across U.S. bases, allies, and shipping lanes.

If he steps back, he risks appearing weak to Israel and hawkish voters. But he may also preserve a narrow path to diplomacy, one that avoids a regional war and potentially revives a nuclear deal on new terms.

For a president who thrives on disruption, unpredictability has long been his tool. But with lives on the line and a fragile global order at stake, Trump’s next move may determine not only the future of the Middle East, but his legacy in global leadership.

As the world holds its breath, two weeks may feel like a lifetime. However, history may judge what happens in this short window as one of the defining choices of the 21st century.