President Donald Trump announced Thursday he will decide within
two weeks whether the US military will directly intervene in the escalating
conflict between Israel and Iran. The statement, delivered by White House Press
Secretary Karoline Leavitt, comes amidst what Trump termed a "substantial
chance" for renewed negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, even as
violent exchanges between the two adversaries entered a seventh day. Trump is
reportedly weighing an attack on Iran's heavily fortified Fordo uranium
enrichment facility, a mountain-buried site requiring specialized
"bunker-buster" bombs.
Violence
Intensifies with Hospital Strike
The announcement followed a day of heightened hostilities.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a direct threat against Iranian
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating the Israeli military "knows
that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not
continue to exist." This came after Iranian missiles struck the Soroka
Medical Center in Beersheba, Israel, wounding at least 80 patients and medical
workers, and hit residential areas near Tel Aviv, causing a total of at least
240 Israeli injuries. Israel alleged one ballistic missile was armed with
banned cluster munitions. Iran denied targeting the hospital, claiming it hit a
nearby military technological unit (C4i) facility instead. An Israeli military
official anonymously acknowledged no specific intelligence indicated Iran
intended to strike the hospital.
Israeli
Airstrikes Target Nuclear Sites
As rescuers evacuated the damaged Soroka hospital, Israeli
warplanes launched further strikes deep into Iran, including the Arak heavy
water reactor complex southwest of Tehran. Israel stated the attack aimed to
prevent the reactor from being restored for potential plutonium production – a
second path to nuclear weapons alongside uranium enrichment. Iranian state TV
reported the site was evacuated beforehand and claimed "no radiation
danger." The strikes also reportedly reached Rasht on the Caspian Sea. Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, surveying the hospital damage, expressed
trust that Trump would "do what’s best for America," noting
significant existing US support.
Diplomatic
Window Opens Amidst Defiance
Concurrently, diplomatic efforts emerged. Britain's Foreign
Secretary David Lammy, after meeting US officials in Washington, stated a
"window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic
solution." Iran's Foreign Minister prepared for talks in Geneva with EU
and European counterparts (UK, France, Germany). However, Iran publicly struck
a defiant stance. Supreme Leader Khamenei rejected US calls for surrender,
warning US involvement would cause "irreparable damage." Parliament
Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf criticized Trump for using military pressure in
nuclear negotiations, calling him "delusional" and confirming the
cancellation of the latest planned indirect US-Iran talks.
Nuclear Stakes and Escalating Toll
The conflict erupted last Friday with
Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, missile launchers,
generals, and scientists. A Washington-based Iranian rights group reported at
least 657 killed (including 263 civilians) and over 2,000 wounded in Iran. Iran
retaliated with hundreds of missiles and drones; Israel estimates most were
intercepted, but at least 24 Israelis have died and hundreds were wounded. Iran
enriches uranium to 60%, close to weapons-grade, while Israel maintains an
undeclared nuclear arsenal. The International Atomic Energy Agency has lost
verification capability over Iran's heavy water production due to Tehran's
restrictions on inspectors
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