• United States
• Iran

June 18, 2025, 4:50 PM View Comments ()

U.S. President Donald Trump refused to say on Wednesday whether he will order direct U.S. military action against Iran to assist Israel’s offensive against the country’s nuclear program. “I may do it. I may not do it. Nobody knows what I’m going to do,” Trump said. However, the likelihood of U.S. involvement appears to be growing, with the U.S. Embassy in Israel working to help evacuate Americans citizens who wish to leave.

On Tuesday, Trump called for an “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” by Iran before meeting with his national security team to discuss the situation. And on Wednesday, he appeared to imply that the United States had approved Israel’s initial operation, saying he gave Tehran 60 days to negotiate a nuclear deal, “and then on day 61, I said, ‘Let’s go.’”

But in a rare address on Wednesday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected Trump’s demand for surrender and warned of all-out war if Washington becomes directly involved. “Americans should know that any military involvement by the U.S. will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage to them,” Khamenei said in a televised speech.

Asked by a reporter on Wednesday what his response was to Khamenei’s refusal to surrender, Trump was blunt: “I say, ‘Good luck.’” Trump also said Iran had reached out to propose coming to the White House for talks. “They want to negotiate. And I said, ‘Why didn’t you negotiate with me before?’” The Iranian mission to the United Nations disputed Trump’s statement.

Read more in today’s World Brief: Trump Weighs Direct U.S. Military Involvement Against Iran.