White House: Trump will decide on a strike on Iran within two weeks

White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt announced Thursday that US President Donald Trump "is still giving diplomacy a chance" regarding Iran and will decide within two weeks whether to take military action against it. The decision was postponed due to the growing likelihood of negotiations with Tehran.

She added at a press conference that Trump "still gives diplomacy a chance" and wants to "see how things play out regarding the nuclear negotiations with Iran."

Levitt quoted the US president as saying, "Given the increasing likelihood of direct negotiations with Iran, I will make my decision on whether to launch an attack within the next two weeks."

She added, "Despite our warnings, Iran did not respond and did not come to the negotiating table within 60 days. On the 61st day, Israel took action against Iran, and immediately afterward, the president announced that he would make a decision within two weeks."

The spokeswoman emphasized that Trump still prefers a diplomatic path if available, adding, "The president has always been interested in diplomatic solutions to global crises, is the chief envoy for peace, and does not hesitate to use force when necessary."

Since dawn on June 13, Israel, with US support, has launched a massive attack on Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, missile bases, military leaders, and nuclear scientists. Tehran responded by launching ballistic missiles and drones into Israeli territory, in the largest direct confrontation between the two sides to date.

According to the latest official death toll announced by the Iranian Ministry of Health on Monday, the Israeli strikes killed 224 people and injured 1,277 others, most of them civilians.

In the absence of any new official updates, the Washington-based Human Rights Activists reported that the death toll in Iran had risen to approximately 639, with more than 1,329 injured, as of Thursday morning, according to a tally based on field documentation.

In contrast, the latest Israeli estimates, citing Hebrew media outlets, including Channel 12, indicate that 25 people were killed and more than 800 others were injured as a result of the Iranian strikes, which included intense waves of missiles and drones.

The risk of an escalation of the conflict looms, with Western and Israeli reports suggesting the United States could join Israel in its aggression against Iran. This coincides with statements by US President Donald Trump calling on Tehran to surrender unconditionally and threatening to target Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.