President Donald Trump has indicated he will wait two weeks before deciding whether to launch military strikes against Iran, citing potential diplomatic negotiations on the horizon. The announcement comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and growing pressure from Israeli leadership.

According to The Mirror US, Trump had reportedly already signed off on potential attack plans targeting Iran's underground nuclear program, with initial reports suggesting he had given Iranian leaders a two-day deadline to halt attacks on Israel.

In a statement released Thursday, Trump explained his decision to delay military action: "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."

White House Reviews Military Options

The president has been actively reviewing attack options with his national security team, including the potential use of powerful 30,000-pound bunker-busting bombs designed to destroy Iran's deeply buried nuclear facilities.

Trump's top officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and special envoy Steve Witkoff, gathered at the White House for a series of meetings in the Situation Room. These discussions have taken place over three consecutive days as the administration weighs its response.

Sources close to the Oval Office reveal that while Trump is considering military action, he remains cautious about committing the United States to another prolonged conflict in the Middle East. "There are a lot of things in motion," one US official said, "but the President wants to keep his options open until the very last moment."

Netanyahu Pushes For American Intervention

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been applying significant pressure on the Trump administration to join Israel's offensive against Iran, specifically requesting American firepower to target nuclear sites beyond Israel's capabilities.

The diplomatic tension comes as Israel continues its bombardment of Iranian military and nuclear facilities. Most recently, Israel carried out strikes on Iran's Arak heavy water reactor, though Iranian state television claimed there was "no radiation danger whatsoever" and that the facility had been evacuated before the attack.

Trump appears to be weighing Netanyahu's arguments that only American military power can effectively cripple Iran's nuclear program, while simultaneously maintaining his long-standing commitment to avoid extended foreign entanglements.

Violence Escalates Between Iran And Israel

The decision delay comes amid intensifying violence between Iran and Israel, with both sides launching significant attacks in recent days.

An Iranian missile struck a hospital in southern Israel on Thursday, wounding people and causing extensive damage. Additional missiles hit a high-rise apartment building in Tel Aviv and other locations in central Israel, with Israel's Health Ministry reporting at least 240 people wounded, four of them seriously.

In response to the attacks, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz directly threatened Iran's Supreme Leader, saying the military "has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist."

Diplomatic Path Remains Uncertain

Trump's announcement of a two-week deliberation period suggests the administration is leaving room for potential diplomatic engagement with Tehran, though details of possible negotiations remain unclear.

The president's characteristic decision-making approach was evident in his Oval Office statement: "I like to make the final decision one second before it's due. Especially with war, things change with war. It can go from one extreme to the other."

European diplomats report that US allies were informed that the White House would first assess Israel's progress during its initial wave of attacks before making any decision to join the offensive. This measured approach reflects Trump's desire to maintain flexibility while navigating the complex regional dynamics.