Washington [US], June 20: U.S. President Donald Trump has opened a two-week diplomatic window before deciding whether to pursue military action against Iran, aiming to revive stalled nuclear negotiations amid an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, CNN reported.
According to officials, Trump and his advisors believe the pressure from Israeli airstrikes and recent Iranian missile losses could prompt Tehran to reconsider its position on uranium enrichment — a central U.S. demand that Iran has previously refused.
Although Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and Vice President JD Vance were considered for deployment to the region, both remained in Washington as no direct talks have been scheduled. However, European foreign ministers from Britain, Germany, and France are expected to meet Iranian representatives in Geneva on Friday to revisit diplomatic proposals, including a previous offer from Witkoff.
Iran, for its part, insists it will not engage in negotiations with the U.S. until Israeli bombings on its territory cease, a stance reinforced by what Tehran perceives as Washington’s failure to pressure Tel Aviv to halt its offensive, CNN noted.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated Trump’s openness to diplomacy while underlining American military strength. “Iran and the entire world should know that the United States military is the strongest and most lethal fighting force in the world,” she said.
In recent Situation Room meetings, Trump has reviewed military options, including bunker-buster strikes on Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility. Despite detailed plans, he expressed concern over the potential for a multi-year war, a scenario that troubles both his senior advisers and former strategist Steve Bannon.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held talks with European allies to ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy reiterated during discussions that, “Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon.”
A White House official described the upcoming Geneva meeting as a “temperature check” to evaluate Iran’s willingness to engage diplomatically amid continued strikes.
While Special Envoy Witkoff maintains indirect outreach efforts, Iran’s posture through third-party channels has shown no major shift in its position so far.
The Israel-Iran conflict escalated dramatically on June 13, when Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, targeting Iranian nuclear sites. Iran responded with retaliatory missile and drone strikes, triggering fears of a broader regional war.