Trump sets two-week deadline for decision on Iran strikes Jessica GardnerUnited States correspondent
Updated Jun 20, 2025 – 7.41am,first published at 6.54am
Washington | Donald Trump will decide within two weeks whether the United States will directly attack Iran, according to a White House statement that keeps the world on edge over the president’s appetite to join Israel’s bombardment and escalate the war.
Berlin | As US President Donald Trump decides whether to go to war in Iran, key European countries are pursuing a diplomatic path, hoping to find a negotiated solution and de-escalate the conflict between Israel and the Islamic Republic before it engulfs the region.
After several days of back-channel discussions, foreign ministers from the UK, France and Germany, together with Kaja Kallas, the European Union foreign policy chief, are scheduled to hold talks on Friday (Saturday AEST) with their Iranian counterpart, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
...within 2 weeks could still be this weekend (or the next).
...Trump may be persuaded to upend EU diplomatic efforts to reach a diplomatic solution, due to nothing more than upsmanship by striking prematurely to blindside Iran with the 2-week decision timeline.
...Trump will not allow Macron to take credit for a diplomatic solution. And Israel is in no mood to negotiate a settlement before their objective is met, which is to rid Iran's nuclear capability.
