Daijiworld Media Network- New York

New York, Jun 20: Tensions in West Asia continue to escalate as U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to make a crucial decision within the next two weeks on whether to order a military strike against Iran, amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, during a press briefing on Thursday, revealed that the President is closely monitoring the situation and weighing his options. Reading from a statement issued by Trump, Leavitt said, “Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiation that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go in the next two weeks.”

As speculation mounts over direct U.S. involvement, the Trump administration has laid out clear preconditions for any diplomatic resolution — notably, that Iran must cease all uranium enrichment activities and abandon any efforts toward developing a nuclear weapon.

Despite the mounting pressure, diplomatic backchannels remain open, with ongoing correspondence between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. According to local media citing diplomatic sources, the two have held multiple phone conversations since Israel initiated airstrikes on Iran on June 13.

Among the key proposals discussed was a U.S.-backed regional uranium enrichment consortium, intended to process nuclear material outside Iran. Tehran has so far rejected the offer, but Araghchi reportedly hinted at possible flexibility on the nuclear issue — provided Washington exerts pressure on Israel to halt its military operations.

However, Araghchi made it clear that Tehran would not resume talks unless Israeli attacks ceased, according to diplomatic sources.

Meanwhile, it has come to light that President Trump had approved attack plans against Iran on Tuesday night, but opted to hold off on execution, leaving the door ajar for diplomatic breakthroughs. He has since been convening daily meetings with his national security team in the White House Situation Room to evaluate the rapidly evolving scenario.

The White House’s statements come amid growing global anxiety about a potential wider regional conflict, which could impact energy markets and diplomatic stability across the Middle East.

Observers say Trump’s decision in the coming fortnight could prove to be a defining moment not only for U.S.-Iran relations but also for his foreign policy legacy as regional tensions reach a boiling point.