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THE WHITE HOUSE said Thursday that President Trump will make his decision on whether to strike Iran’s nuclear sites over the next two weeks, giving negotiators time to reach a diplomatic solution.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from Trump to reporters in the briefing room:

“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place in the near future, I will make my decision of whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” the statement read.

Leavitt said correspondence between the U.S. and Iran about a potential nuclear deal “has continued” in “both direct and indirect ways.”

“If there’s a chance for diplomacy the president is always going to grab it, but he’s not afraid to use strength either,” she added.

The White House sidestepped a question on whether Trump could seek regime change in Iran.

“The president’s top priority right now is ensuring that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon and providing peace and stability in the Middle East,” Leavitt said.

Earlier this week, Trump taunted Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying the U.S. and Israel know where he’s hiding but have decided not to kill him “for now.”

Global leaders are pushing for a diplomatic end to the war between Israel and Iran.

Officials from Iran and three major European countries are expected to meet Friday in Geneva.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet with foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, Germany and France, as well as European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas.

Araghchi said the European countries requested the meeting, which will focus on persuading Iran to guarantee its nuclear program is used solely for civilian purposes.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has spoken to Trump about a diplomatic solution to the war, has offered to broker a deal between Israel and Iran.

“In my view, a solution could be found,” Putin told reporters.

When asked about the possibility of Israel or the U.S. assassinating Khamenei, Putin responded: “I don’t even want to discuss such a possibility.”

Putin is involved in his own war with Ukraine and has refused to engage in negotiations for a peace deal.

Trump will attend next week’s NATO summit in the Netherlands. He’s expected to depart Monday for the two-day event, after cutting his appearance at the Group of Seven (G7) summit short earlier this week to return to Washington to strategize about Iran.

ATTACKS RAMP UP

Israel and Iran have escalated their strikes on each other.

Iranian missiles hit a major hospital in Israel early Thursday, wounding dozens and causing “extensive damage” to the complex.

Israel vowed to hold Khamenei responsible for “war crimes,” with its defense chief saying the Supreme Leader “cannot continue to exist.”

Israeli officials promised to intensify air strikes, after recent success with hits on Iran's nuclear and missile sites, as well as targeted assassinations that have decimated Khamenei’s inner circle.

However, Iran says it’s on standby with missiles ready to strike U.S. bases in the region if the Trump administration joins the war.

The U.S. has begun evacuations of diplomats and non-essential personnel from Israel, with Americans fleeing on flights headed to Florida.

Trump is the wild card in the conflict, perhaps as a designed negotiating strategy.

He’s said he may authorize U.S. strikes to take out Iranian nuclear facilities or he may not. He's said he’ll make a decision at the last possible moment.

Trump held another meeting with his senior intelligence and national security officials in the Situation Room on Thursday. He’s been in frequent contact with his National Security Council and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The president disputed a report in The Wall Street Journal that he’d approved an attack plan but has held back on green-lighting it.

“The Wall Street Journal has No Idea what my thoughts are concerning Iran!” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that the Pentagon has provided military options to Trump.

Hegseth told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that U.S. troops are providing “maximum force protection” in the Middle East and that no decision had been reached yet about whether the U.S. would fly B-2 stealth bombers over Iran to drop a “bunker buster” bomb that could........

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