 "File photo of US President Donald Trump. Source: Reuters")
President Donald Trump has hinted that US involvement in the ongoing Israel-Iran war might ‘won’t be necessary,’ a day after setting a two-week deadline for potential American strikes on the Shi’ite nation.
“I would say two weeks would be the maximum,” Trump told reporters on Friday (June 20).
When asked whether Israel was capable of destroying Iran’s underground Fordo nuclear facility, Trump said, “Maybe it won’t be necessary.”
The president’s statement indicates he still remains undecided on a potential military action against Iran and is open to a non-military approach.
‘Airstrikes unlikely to destroy Iranian nuclear sites’
A US military campaign could damage Iran’s nuclear sites, such as Fordo and Natanz, but experts warn that airstrikes cannot erase Iran’s nuclear programme altogether.
Such an attack might instead strengthen Tehran’s determination to develop nuclear weapons for self-preservation.
Analysts caution that US involvement in the conflict could lead to significant repercussions. Iran might retaliate against the roughly 40,000 US troops in West Asia or critical infrastructure, including the Strait of Hormuz, which carries 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply.
Diplomacy between US and Iran
Washington and Tehran are engaged in both direct and indirect talks, with the US pressing Iran to halt its uranium enrichment programme.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi have held multiple phone conversations since Israel’s attacks started, marking the most substantive direct dialogue since April 2025 negotiations in Oman and Italy.
According to three diplomats cited by Reuters, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the issue, Araqchi insisted that Tehran would not resume negotiations unless Israel ceased its strikes.
The discussions also touched on an American proposal from May 2025 to establish a regional consortium for uranium enrichment outside Iran, which Tehran has so far rejected.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsA regional diplomat close to Tehran noted that Araqchi hinted at potential “flexibility” on the nuclear issue if Washington could pressure Israel to end the conflict.
Trump disagrees with DNI’s remarks on Iran
Meanwhile, Trump on Friday asserted thaty his director of national intelligence was “wrong” when she testified that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had not taken steps to revive the country’s suspended nuclear weapons programme.
A reporter asked, “What intelligence do you have that Iran is building a nuclear weapon? Your intelligence community said they have no evidence.”
The president responded, “Then my intelligence community is wrong. Who in the intelligence community said that?”
“Your DNI [director of national intelligence], Tulsi Gabbard,” the reporter replied.
“She’s wrong,” Trump said.