A Window for Diplomacy or Prelude to War?
Trump Iran strike decision coming in two weeks after intense Israel-Iran clashes, says the former president.
According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the president still sees a “substantial chance” for diplomacy, but continues to weigh military action, particularly against Iran’s Fordo uranium enrichment site, a fortified facility buried beneath a mountain.
Missiles, Hospitals, and Civilian Casualties
The announcement followed a series of Iranian missile attacks on Israel, including a devastating strike on Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. At least 240 people were injured, and Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz declared Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei a direct target.
Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes retaliated, striking Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor, part of its disputed nuclear program. Other key Iranian targets included the Natanz enrichment site and ballistic missile launchers.
Chaos at Soroka Medical Center
The Soroka hospital strike wounded over 80 patients and medical staff. Fortunately, the most vulnerable patients had been moved to underground facilities. Smoke, shattered glass, and disabled medical systems painted a grim scene.
Iran later claimed it was targeting an Israeli military unit near the hospital, but Israeli officials did not confirm the presence of such a facility in the area.
Iran Retaliates and the Region Trembles
Since the conflict began seven days ago, Iran has fired 450 missiles and over 1,000 drones into Israel. Israel’s sophisticated air defenses intercepted most, but 24 Israeli citizens have died and hundreds more injured.
In Iran, the death toll has risen to 657, including 263 civilians, according to an Iranian human rights organization.
Nuclear Facilities Under Fire
Israel’s strikes also targeted the Arak reactor, a site once central to Iran’s plutonium path to a nuclear weapon. Although Iran insists the site was redesigned for peaceful use, the International Atomic Energy Agency says it has lost visibility over Iran’s heavy water production.
Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons, but it is enriching uranium at 60% purity, dangerously close to the weapons-grade level of 90%.
Geneva’s Diplomatic Push
Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister of Iran, will meet with European leaders in Geneva to discuss possible diplomatic solutions. In the meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy met to talk about peace negotiations.
Lammy said on social media, “A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution.”
The Hardline from Tehran
Despite the potential for negotiations, Iranian leaders are rejecting U.S. calls for surrender. Iran’s Parliament speaker accused Trump of using “war to impose peace,” and the country’s Supreme Leader warned the U.S. of “irreparable damage” if it intervenes directly.
The Stakes of a Trump Decision
Trump’s upcoming decision may mark a critical pivot in Middle East policy, potentially triggering a broader war or opening the door to a renewed nuclear deal.
His prior withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement and tough posture on Iran makes this moment especially consequential.
Source: AP News