President Donald Trump on Friday warned that Iran has a maximum of two weeks to avoid U.S. airstrikes, signaling that a decision could come even sooner if negotiations fail.
“I’m giving them a period of time, and I would say two weeks would be the maximum,” Trump told reporters, hinting he could act earlier if he sees no signs of progress.
The warning follows his Thursday statement that there was a “substantial chance of negotiations,” suggesting a narrow window to end the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
Trump downplayed ongoing European diplomatic efforts, saying, “They didn’t help. Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us.”
European powers—Britain, France, Germany, and the EU—met with Iran’s foreign minister in Geneva in a bid to revive diplomacy. But Trump dismissed their involvement as ineffective.
“It’s very hard to make that request right now,” he said when asked about halting Israeli strikes. “If somebody’s winning, it’s a little bit harder to do than if somebody’s losing.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted talks with the U.S. wouldn’t resume unless Israel ends its offensive, but Trump remained noncommittal, saying, “We’ve been speaking to Iran, and we’ll see what happens.”
Despite dissent within his own administration, Trump insisted Iran is on the brink of developing a nuclear weapon. He pushed back on Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s March report stating Iran isn’t close to having enough enriched uranium.
“She’s wrong,” Trump said bluntly.
Iran continues to insist its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
