Trump Weighs US Strike on Iran amid Escalating Conflict

Friday 20 June 2025 - 08:31

By: Zahouani Ilham

Trump Weighs US Strike on Iran amid Escalating Conflict

President Donald Trump announced he will decide within two weeks whether the United States will engage militarily in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. The decision could hinge on the potential reopening of negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, even as both sides continue their attacks.

According to a statement delivered by press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump is considering a direct strike on Iran’s heavily fortified Fordo nuclear facility, which lies deep underground and is only accessible to advanced U.S. munitions.

Earlier the same day, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a direct threat to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following an Iranian missile strike on a hospital in southern Israel and nearby residential areas. The attack wounded at least 240 people. Katz emphasized that the Iranian leader “should not continue to exist.”

As Israeli warplanes launched fresh strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed confidence in Trump’s decision-making, noting from the bomb-damaged Soroka Medical Center that the US was already providing significant support.

Amid the military escalation, a diplomatic effort emerged. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi prepared to meet with European counterparts in Geneva to explore options for de-escalation.

The hostilities erupted a week earlier when Israel launched a surprise offensive targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites. Reports indicate that at least 657 people have died in Iran, including 263 civilians, and over 2,000 others have been injured.

Iran retaliated by launching hundreds of missiles and drones toward Israeli targets. Although Israel’s air defense systems intercepted most, dozens of casualties and widespread damage have occurred. One Iranian missile, reportedly equipped with cluster munitions, caused significant harm at Soroka Medical Center, injuring around 80 patients and staff.

Iranian authorities denied targeting the hospital, claiming they aimed for a nearby military intelligence facility. Israeli sources, however, did not confirm this claim.

Medical centers across Israel, including Soroka, had activated emergency protocols in anticipation of attacks. Hospitals converted parking areas into makeshift wards and relocated patients underground.

The Israeli military has concentrated its airstrikes on Iran’s key nuclear infrastructure, including sites in Natanz, Isfahan, and around Tehran. Strikes also targeted suspected missile launchers, contributing to a decline in Iranian attacks.

Recent Israeli strikes reached Rasht, in northern Iran, prompting public warnings to evacuate nearby industrial zones. With internet access restricted in Iran, the effectiveness of those warnings remains uncertain.

Trump’s pending decision appears to open diplomatic avenues, yet Iranian officials remain defiant. Ayatollah Khamenei warned the US against any military involvement, while parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf criticized Trump for using force as leverage in nuclear talks.

Israeli jets also bombed the Arak heavy water reactor, which can produce plutonium as a nuclear byproduct. Though Iran insists there was no radiation threat, the strike raised concerns over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Iran had committed to redesigning the reactor under the 2015 nuclear deal, but that project stalled after Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018. Iran later took steps to restore its capabilities at Arak.

According to Israel, the latest strike aimed to ensure that the reactor could not be reactivated for weapons development. Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency has acknowledged that it can no longer monitor Iran’s heavy water production due to restricted access.