Iran-Israel Conflict: Trump may order direct US strike on Iran within 2 weeks

Amid escalating violence between Israel and Iran, US President Donald Trump said Thursday he would decide within two weeks whether American forces will get directly involved in the conflict. The decision, he indicated, hinges on the “substantial chance” for renewed negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.

Trump has reportedly been considering a strike on Iran’s Fordo uranium enrichment facility, a highly fortified site buried under a mountain and believed to be beyond the reach of all but US “bunker-buster” bombs. His statement was read out by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, as per AP.

Hospital strike prompts sharp Israeli warning

Earlier Thursday, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz openly threatened Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after Iranian missiles struck Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba and damaged nearby residential areas in Tel Aviv, injuring at least 240 people.

“Israel’s military has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist,” Katz said.

As emergency responders evacuated patients from the burning hospital, Israeli warplanes retaliated by launching another strike on Iran’s nuclear programme. Speaking from outside Soroka Medical Center, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “I can tell you that they’re already helping a lot,” referring to US support. “I trust that Trump will do what’s best for America.”

Diplomatic push gains momentum amid missile barrage

In parallel with the military escalation, diplomatic efforts are underway. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to meet officials from the EU, UK, France, and Germany in Geneva on Friday. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff to explore possibilities for a negotiated resolution.

“A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution,” Lammy posted on social media following the meeting.

The war erupted last Friday after Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure, killing 657 people—263 of them civilians—according to a Washington-based Iranian rights group. Iran has retaliated with 450 missiles and 1,000 drones, the Israeli military claims, with most intercepted. Still, over 24 Israelis have been killed and hundreds injured.

Cluster munitions used, hospitals moved underground

Israeli authorities accused Iran of using cluster munitions in one of the missile strikes. These warheads release smaller bomblets, causing widespread area damage and significant risk to civilians. The military did not reveal where the cluster bomb landed but confirmed it was part of Thursday’s attack.

At Soroka Medical Center, at least 80 people were wounded, though many had been relocated underground days earlier. Emergency protocols saw hospitals turning parking areas into makeshift wards and moving critical patients to fortified shelters. Soroka has since closed to all non-critical admissions.

Iran claimed the missile targeted a military tech base near the hospital and not the facility itself. “The attack hit a facility belonging to the Israeli military’s elite technological unit, called C4i,” Iranian officials insisted. Israel has not commented officially on that claim.

(With inputs from AP)