President Donald Trump has just thrown down a diplomatic gauntlet that could reshape the Middle East.
Breitbart reported that Trump has given Iran a tight window of roughly two weeks to come to the negotiating table with the United States, a statement delivered amidst swirling rumors of potential military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
On Thursday, June 19, 2025, Trump issued this urgent message, signaling that the clock is ticking for Tehran to engage in meaningful dialogue.
The very next day, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt amplified the president’s stance during a press briefing, reading a direct statement from Trump himself.
“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,” Leavitt quoted Trump as saying.
Well, there’s a masterclass in keeping your cards close—Trump’s vagueness on what “go” means leaves Iran guessing whether it’s diplomacy or something far less pleasant.
This comes hot on the heels of Trump’s earlier musings about possibly ordering strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, a comment that had the media buzzing with speculation before this latest deadline emerged.
Leavitt didn’t mince words about the stakes, pointing out that Iran is dangerously close to producing a nuclear weapon, pending only a green light from their supreme leader.
“Let’s be very clear: Iran has all that it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon,” Leavitt warned during the briefing. If that doesn’t send a chill down the spine of anyone who values global stability, what will?
She added that such a weapon could be ready in mere weeks, posing a grave danger not just to Israel, but to the United States and the entire world—a point she noted even nations like Russia agree on.
Despite the tension, Leavitt confirmed that communication between Washington and Tehran hasn’t completely broken down, with correspondence ongoing.
Any potential agreement, she clarified, would hinge on Iran halting uranium enrichment and ensuring no nuclear weapon is ever produced. That’s a tall order, but it’s the kind of firm line conservatives have long demanded when dealing with regimes that play fast and loose with global security.
Meanwhile, Trump took to Truth Social hours before the briefing to slap down a Wall Street Journal report claiming he had authorized attack plans but held off on a final decision.
In his post, Trump dismissed the anonymously sourced story, asserting that the outlet “has no idea” what his true intentions toward Iran are. That’s a polite way of saying the press should stop pretending to read his mind—something many on the right have been saying about the mainstream media for years.
Leavitt also addressed the media’s feverish guessing games during the briefing, noting, “Regarding the situation in Iran, I know there has been a lot of speculation amongst all of you in the media regarding the president’s decision-making.” It’s almost as if she’s reminding them that speculation isn’t fact—a lesson some outlets could stand to learn.