Caroline Leavitt's Briefing
Negotiation Deadline Set...
"Possibility of Talks in the Near Future"
The White House announced on June 19 (local time) that President Donald Trump will decide within the next two weeks whether to launch a military attack against Iran. President Trump has effectively set a two-week final deadline to induce Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions, and is reportedly holding off on a military decision while hoping for the voluntary destruction of Iran's underground nuclear facility in Fordow.
White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt stated during a briefing that President Trump "will make a decision within the next two weeks, based on the fact that there is a significant possibility of negotiations with Iran in the near future."
The 'two weeks' mentioned by President Trump is interpreted as a kind of final deadline demanding Iran's decision to abandon its nuclear program.
Spokesperson Leavitt explained that President Trump's objectives remain unchanged: stopping Iran's uranium enrichment and preventing the acquisition of nuclear weapons, and that the administration will pursue diplomatic efforts if the opportunity arises.
The previous day, President Trump said that he had not yet made a final decision regarding a potential attack on Iran. Local media reported that President Trump approved a plan to attack Iran on June 17, but decided to put it on hold to observe Iran's response.
In this context, CBS News reported that President Trump is delaying his final decision in hopes that Iran will voluntarily destroy its underground nuclear facility in Fordow. According to the outlet, President Trump is willing to deploy U.S. troops if necessary, but believes the best outcome would be for the Iranian regime to abandon its nuclear program and disable the Fordow facility on its own.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned the possibility of regime change in Iran earlier in the day.
Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israel's military objective is to destroy Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, but added, "We could also create conditions to assist regime change." When asked whether Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei would be targeted, he replied, "No one is exempt."
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