(Bloomberg) — US President Donald Trump signaled he would give diplomacy a chance before deciding whether to strike Iran, dialing back on recent comments that suggested military action could be imminent.
Most Read from Bloomberg
“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” Trump said in a dictated message, according to White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.
Subscribe to the Bloomberg Daybreak Podcast on Apple, Spotify and other Podcast Platforms.
Iran maintained Friday it won’t negotiate with the US while an Israeli assault continues. The only way to end the imposed war is to “unconditionally stop” the enemy’s aggression, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Friday in a post on X.
Oil prices fell following a report from Reuters that Iran is ready to discuss limitations on nuclear enrichment, but will not consider stopping entirely. That puts the country’s leadership at odds with Trump, who has called for zero enrichment.
Israel launched its surprise attack on Iran a week ago, saying the threat of its sworn enemy acquiring nuclear weapons had to be neutralized. While that goal hasn’t been fully met, the Islamic Republic’s military capabilities have been degraded and a number of its top generals and atomic scientists have been killed.
Iran has struck back at Israel with waves of ballistic missiles and drones, and there have been heavy casualties on both sides.
Trump, who is scheduled to attend a national security meeting in the Oval Office on Friday, has publicly mused for days about the US joining the fray. His latest stance signals a step back after a run of tough rhetoric, including demands for Tehran residents to relocate and threats toward Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and his early departure from this week’s Group of Seven summit in Canada to return to Washington.
On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the military to continue attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities and scientists, and to bring about a widespread evacuation of Tehran, which he said was part of the effort to undermine the Iranian regime.
Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen told Army Radio that Iran would be prevented from gaining atomic weapons irrespective of whether the US joins the operation — although its participation would be helpful.
Story Continues