[Source/Observer Network Qi Qian] In recent days, the conflict between Israel and Iran has escalated continuously, the regional situation has become tense rapidly, and all eyes are on whether the United States will directly participate in the war.
On local time June 19, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt read out the latest statement of US President Trump at a press conference, saying that new negotiations with Iran may be held "in the near future," and whether to join Israel's attack on Iran will be decided "within the next two weeks." Reuters cited messages saying that Trump's special envoy and Iranian Foreign Minister have had multiple phone calls since last week.
On the same day, Iran confirmed that Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi plans to hold nuclear negotiations with foreign ministers from the UK, France, and Germany in Geneva on the 20th. The Financial Times reported that this might be the last attempt to prevent further escalation of the conflict, but also warned that the United States "still has the possibility of taking military action." Some American military experts reminded that Trump's latest statement might be a "smoke screen," aiming to make Iran let down its guard.
Notably, in recent days, the US military has been increasing its presence in the Middle East, making frequent moves. On the 19th, an informed American official told CNN that the US military has taken several measures to protect its military assets in the Middle East, including evacuating all unprotected aircraft from military bases in the region and pre-deploying additional blood supplies.
Trump said he would make a decision "within the next two weeks."
"Based on the fact that there is a high probability of negotiating with Iran in the near future, I will make a decision within the next two weeks." According to Levitt's retelling, Trump expressed this in his statement.
When asked whether Trump's Middle East envoy Witkov had contact with Iranian officials, she said: "Communications between both sides are still ongoing."
In addition, according to BBC reports, during the press conference, when asked how to respond to ordinary Trump supporters who expressed concerns about the United States' involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, Levitt said, "Trust President Trump."
Levitt stated that Trump's "top priority" was to ensure that Iran would not successfully develop nuclear weapons.
Levitt read out Trump's statement at the press conference on the 19th. Video screenshot
BBC reported that during the press conference, Levitt repeatedly refused to discuss "hypothetical scenarios," including whether Iranian officials would come to the White House or whether Trump would seek congressional approval for any involvement by the United States.
In the past two days, while Trump "showed muscle" by mobilizing the military to deploy forces, he remained evasive about military strikes. The previous day (the 18th), Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader of the US Senate, and other senior Democrats issued a joint statement strongly criticizing Trump's handling of the Iran issue as "lacking preparation, strategy, and clear goals," emphasizing that Congress has not and will not authorize military action against Iran.
The Financial Times believes that Trump's latest statement seems to indicate that although due to concerns about the imminent escalation of the situation, US military forces are accelerating their deployment to the region, he is slowing down the pace of making decisions to join the war.
Reuters mentioned that "within the next two weeks" may not necessarily be a definitive deadline, as Trump often uses "two weeks" as a timeframe for decision-making. At the same time, sources said that Witkov and Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi have had multiple phone calls since last week.
In response to reports about the United States possibly attacking Iran, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded on the 19th, stating that the current situation in the Middle East is tense and sensitive, with the risk of losing control. China opposes any actions that violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, infringe upon the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of other countries, and opposes the use or threat of force in international relations.
"The international community, especially major powers, should uphold a fair stance and responsible attitude, create conditions for promoting ceasefires and returning to dialogue and negotiation, avoid the region sliding into a deeper abyss, and prevent greater disasters." He said.
Iran confirms: will hold negotiations with the UK, France, and Germany
On local time the 19th, the seventh day of the Israel-Iran conflict, the regional situation deteriorated rapidly. Israel has been conducting airstrikes against Iran under the pretext of preventing it from developing nuclear weapons. Iran denies planning to develop nuclear weapons and retaliates severely against Israel.
On the same day, Israel bombed Iran's nuclear targets, and Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel. It was reported that Iran's nuclear facilities were continuously being attacked from the air. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps announced on the 19th that they had conducted joint missile and drone attacks on military and industrial bases related to Haifa and Tel Aviv in Israel.
According to Reuters data, the continuous fighting between Israel and Iran has resulted in hundreds of deaths in Iran and over 20 deaths in Israel. In recent days, Iran's official authorities have stopped updating the death toll, and the internet is almost completely shut down, making it more difficult to assess the damage within Iran.
Currently, the Israel-Iran conflict has reached a critical point, and the global attention is focused on whether the US military will join Israel's military operations against Iran.
Earlier on the morning of the 18th, Trump continued to refuse to reveal whether he had made a final decision when speaking to reporters outside the White House, and said, "No one knows what I will do." Later that evening, Trump told CNN in the Oval Office of the White House that he had already decided what to do but "likes to make the final decision at the last second before the deadline."
On the same day, The Wall Street Journal of the United States cited messages saying that Trump had recently informed senior aides that he approved the attack plan against Iran but did not issue a final order, waiting to observe whether Iran would abandon its nuclear program.
Foreign media reports say that in the coming days, the key focus of Israeli and American decision-making may very well concentrate on Iran's Fordow nuclear facility located 90 meters underground. It is known that conventional weapons cannot strike such depth targets; if aerial strikes are to destroy the facility, US military intervention will be needed. It is revealed that US military aircraft and aircraft carriers are deploying to Europe and the Middle East.
Just as tensions were escalating, German, French, and British foreign ministers plan to hold nuclear negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister on local time the 20th in Geneva. Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed this news. It was revealed that these negotiations, coordinated by the United States, aim to convince Iran to firmly guarantee that its nuclear program is only for civilian purposes. Reuters reported that there might be more negotiations between the US and Iran, which could be the last attempt to prevent the escalation of conflicts.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrow told reporters on the 19th: "We have indicated our willingness to participate in negotiations to ensure that Iran permanently abandons its nuclear program and ballistic missile program. Negotiations remain the only way to achieve a permanent reversal of Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missile program so far."
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the same day: "Resolving this issue through negotiations rather than conflict... the risks of escalating the situation in the entire region are obvious." He also said that the UK "fully" recognizes Israel's right to self-defense, but "in principle, we need to ease tensions." On the same day, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with US Secretary of State Rubio and Witkov at the White House.
Since April this year, the US and Iran have held five rounds of negotiations under the mediation of Oman, but no substantial breakthroughs have been achieved. The US hopes that Iran will completely terminate uranium enrichment projects that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons, while Iran insists on retaining the project and demands the lifting of sanctions as a precondition for any concessions made regarding its nuclear program. Due to the Israeli raid, the sixth round of negotiations originally scheduled for the 15th was canceled.
"US troops have pre-deployed additional blood supplies"
However, The Financial Times mentioned that people still hold a pessimistic view on whether Iran is willing to reach an agreement. Sources close to the negotiations warned that the US "still has the possibility of taking military action." In addition, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu also opposes diplomatic contact with Iran, repeatedly emphasizing that this war initiated by the Israeli army aims to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
The New York Times of the United States also cited some expert analyses pointing out that Trump's latest statement might be to deceive the Iranians and make them relax their guard. The report stated that although it appears that Trump has provided Iran with another way out, he is simultaneously strengthening his military options.
"This might be to cover up the immediate decision to launch strikes," said James Stavridis, a retired US Navy admiral and former Supreme Commander of US Forces in Europe. "This might be a very clever ruse to make the Iranians complacent."
Recently, the US military has been increasing its presence in the Middle East. Reuters previously reported that a third US Navy destroyer has entered the eastern Mediterranean, and a second US aircraft carrier strike group is heading toward the Arabian Sea. Although the Pentagon claims that this military buildup is purely for defensive purposes, if Trump decides to join Israel's attack on Iran, it will put the US in a more advantageous position.
On local time the 19th, two US defense officials told CNN that the US military had taken several measures to protect its assets and equipment in the Middle East, including evacuating all unprotected aircraft from military bases in Qatar and relocating US Navy vessels stationed in Bahrain.
Notably, according to informed sources, US Central Command has also pre-deployed additional blood supplies in the region, which is standard operating procedure to prepare for possible attacks on US troops at any time.
Satellite images on the 19th show almost empty parking lots at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. CNN
One of the informed officials said that these changes are prudent preventive plans because Iran has threatened that if the US decides to join Israel in attacking Iran's nuclear facilities, Iran will retaliate against US troops and bases in the Middle East.
CNN noticed that satellite images on June 5 and June 19 showed that the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar had been cleared. An official confirmed that these unprotected US aircraft had been evacuated from the base. In addition, all US Navy ships deployed in the Bahrain Naval Support Facility had left port earlier this week. It remains unclear where these aircraft and ships were transferred during the heightened tensions.
On the evening of the 19th, according to an Israeli Defense Forces statement, 14 aircraft carrying military equipment arrived in Israel from the US.
CNN emphasized that if Trump decides to join Israel's military operation against Iran, Iran has the capability to retaliate directly against the US. Iran has dozens of "proxy organizations" in the region that can launch ballistic missiles and drones at US troops and bases.
It was reported that in the past two days, Trump has been holding meetings with national security teams in the White House Situation Room every day. On the morning of the 19th, Vice President Vance, Defense Secretary Hackett, Middle East Envoy Witkov, and other high-ranking officials attended the meeting.
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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7517829278927454758/
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