Trump needs “two weeks” to decide Iran’s fate

At a time when several media outlets were claiming that Trump had already validated plans for a US attack on Iran in coordination with Israel, which would have chosen to target Iran’s nuclear sites, the president found himself facing strong criticism in his own camp, causing divisions among his supporters and the GOP.

After several days of hesitation, during which he stated that he “may or may not” launch an attack against Iran, Trump reacted by announcing that he was postponing his decision… for two weeks.

Israel launched Operation Rising Lion on June 13, with a series of air strikes targeting nuclear sites, military infrastructure and several Iranian scientists and senior officials. According to Netanyahu, the aim was to prevent Iran from moving closer to nuclear weapons, and to respond to a threat deemed urgent.

While Trump had been saying for several weeks that he wanted to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Iran to replace the one he scuppered in his first term, he surprised many observers, including his own supporters, by hailing the Israeli strikes as “excellent”.

After Israel’s first strikes, Trump warned that “even more brutal” actions would follow if Iran refused to cooperate, calling for total capitulation and claiming that negotiations were over. Yet days passed without him giving the order to launch the US strikes.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt relayed the president’s comments that there was a substantial chance of negotiations “that may or may not take place” with Iran in the near future, adding that Trump would make his final decision “within the next two weeks”.

While some attribute this inaction to the political backlash he faces within his own party, others see it as further proof that Trump systematically backs down from what he promises to do. Cue the TACO memes.