Washington, June 19, 2025 – The Europe Today: U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he has not yet made a final decision on whether to authorize military strikes against Iran, emphasizing his preference to wait until “one second before it’s due” to determine the course of action.
“I don’t want to fight either. I’m not looking to fight,” Trump told reporters during a briefing in the Oval Office. “But if it’s a choice between fighting and them having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do — and maybe we won’t have to fight.”
As tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, Trump remarked on the fluidity of the situation: “Things change, especially with war. You go from one extreme to the other. War is very bad. There was no reason for this to be.”
The President added that he would convene a Situation Room meeting within the hour to review the latest developments and assess next steps.
The remarks come amid an intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran, which began with a series of Israeli airstrikes on June 13 targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, military command centers, and high-level defense personnel. According to Iranian media reports, the attacks have resulted in 585 fatalities and over 1,300 injuries across Tehran and other urban areas.
In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missile strikes against Israel, killing 24 people and injuring more than 500, as reported by regional sources.
When asked whether he believed the Iranian government might collapse under the pressure of Israel’s sustained military campaign, Trump responded: “Anything could happen.”
He also reiterated earlier claims made on Wednesday, suggesting that Iranian officials had expressed interest in meeting at the White House — a statement that has since been denied by Tehran. “They want to meet, but it’s a little late to meet. They want to come to the White House, so we’ll see. I may do that,” Trump said. “They want to see me in the White House. That’s a big statement. But it’s very late.”
Responding to these remarks, Iran’s UN mission posted on X (formerly Twitter): “No Iranian official has ever asked to grovel at the gates of the White House.”
As the situation remains volatile, global attention is fixed on Washington’s next move, with potential U.S. military involvement poised to significantly reshape the trajectory of the escalating Middle East crisis.
