The US President, Donald Trump, declined to say whether his administration has decided to move forward with striking Iran or its nuclear facilities, reported the Associated Press (AP).
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said: “I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do.”
The US President added that Tehran still has a chance to abandon its nuclear program. “Nothing’s too late. “I can tell you this. Iran’s got a lot of trouble,” he said. Trump also noted that the upcoming week “is going to be very big— maybe less than a week.”
On Tuesday, Trump warned the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that his “patience is wearing thin,” demanding Tehran’s “unconditional surrender.”
In response, Khamenei rejected Trump’s threats, saying that Iran will not surrender. He also threatened that any direct US military intervention in Israel’s war against Iran will bring “irreparable damage” for Washington.
Commenting on Khamenei’s remarks, Trump said: “I say good luck.”
The US President also said that Iranian officials try to reach out to the White House, but “there’s a big difference between now and a week ago.”
However, Iran’s mission to the UN denied Trump’s claim. “No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House,” it said in a statement on X.
“Iran does NOT negotiate under duress, shall NOT accept peace under duress,” it noted, adding that “Iran shall respond to any threat with a counter-threat, and to any action with reciprocal measures.”
Meanwhile, the US Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, said that the Pentagon was providing options to Trump as he decides next steps on Iran, but refused to say whether the military was planning to take part in Israeli strikes.
