President Donald Trump suggested that he does not want to pull the United States into a war with Iran but would be prepared to stop the Middle Eastern nation from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email on Wednesday for comment.
Why It Matters
Israel launched attacks against Iran’s capital city of Tehran last week in what it called a “preemptive strike” and warned its citizens of retaliatory bombings from Iran.
Military tensions between the two countries have rapidly escalated in the days since; hundreds of people in Iran have died as a result of Israel’s attacks on Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. At least 24 people in Israel have died, and at least 500 were injured in Iran’s retaliatory strikes.
What To Know
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump said, “Maybe we won’t have to fight.”
“I’m not looking to fight. But if it’s a choice between fighting and them having a nuclear weapon, you have to do what you have to do,” he said.
The president said that he planned to meet in the Situation Room on Wednesday afternoon and had “ideas” about what to do regarding Iran.
“I like to make the final decision one second before it’s due,” Trump said, adding that, “Things change with war.”
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
Earlier in the week, Trump posted on Truth Social that Tehran should “immediately evacuate.” On Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem announced that it would close from Wednesday until Friday due to “the current security situation and ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.”
Trump is facing bipartisan pushback on his comments related to Iran as Republicans like Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene oppose putting U.S. troops on the ground. Others, like Senator Lindsey Graham, have called on the president to act now and go “all in” on Iran.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, on Tuesday on Truth Social: “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, in a statement to Newsweek: “The American people are tired of being pulled into endless wars they never asked for and that Congress never approved. Senator [Tim] Kaine’s resolution is a common-sense step to make sure no president can bypass the Constitution and launch military action without accountability. We urge every senator to support this resolution and put the power to declare war back where it belongs—in the hands of the people’s representatives.”
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Wednesday on X (formerly Twitter): “Netanyahu is not the President of the United States. He should not be determining U.S. foreign and military policy. If the people of Israel support his decision to start a war with Iran, that is their business and their war. The United States must not be a part of it.”
What Happens Next
As Trump is set to meet in the Situation Room, it is immediately unclear how the night will unfold and if additional strikes between Israel and Iran will continue.
Update 6/18/25, 5:04 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
