President Donald Trump said Friday evening that he has not yet made a decision on Iran, adding that he believes Tehran is 'becoming serious' about a deal. He noted that talks are ongoing but Iran is not ready to close an agreement.
President Donald Trump has not yet decided whether to escalate U.S. strikes on Iran, he said at 22:37 Jerusalem — a statement of indecision that follows a rapid sequence of remarks tonight. At 22:42, he added that Iran is 'becoming serious,' and at 22:45 he reiterated both the indecision and the assessment. The cumulative picture suggests the administration is weighing continued military pressure against diplomatic engagement without a final decision, as The Zioneer reported.
Earlier tonight, at 22:34, Trump had already outlined two possibilities — finishing the job militarily or reaching a deal — while saying Iran is not ready for an agreement. Within minutes, he stated that Iranians are 'serious but not ready,' then that they are 'more serious than ever,' and finally that he thinks Iran is 'becoming serious.' The sequence, reported by N12 (Channel 12) among others, shows a rapid shift from a hardline framing to a more nuanced tone, though the core message of Iran’s unpreparedness remains.
In the broader context, Trump’s rhetoric on Iran has fluctuated in recent weeks. On Wednesday, Jul 8, he said he was not sure he wants a deal after getting to know Iran’s leaders. On Thursday, Jul 23, he stated that Iran needs to 'get hit more' and will never have a nuclear weapon. The Friday evening statements mark a return to a more diplomatic tone, but the indecision on escalation leaves both tracks open.
What remains unclear: whether Trump’s indecision signals a genuine pause before a decision on strikes, or a tactical ambiguity. Iran’s 'seriousness' — cited by Trump — has not yet produced a concrete negotiating breakthrough, and the talks, while confirmed ongoing, lack a defined timeline.
5 developments
- DevelopingTrump: I haven't decided yet on escalating strikes on Iran
- DevelopingTrump: Iran not ready for a deal, but talks continue; US has two options
- StrongTrump says he is 'close to making a decision' on massive attack on Iran, in N12 interview
- StrongTrump says he is not sure he wants to make a deal with Iran after getting to know its leaders
Source and signal
- Open-source intake