Trump puts Iran bombardment on hold

PEACE hopes were raised last night after Donald Trump said he would decide whether to attack Iran in the next two weeks amid a “substantial chance” of a diplomatic solution.

- By Martyn Brown and Giles Sheldrick

The White House announcement came after reports that the US president had given the green light for a full-scale assault on the Middle East pariah state’s under-ground nuclear programme.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt relayed the president’s message during a White House briefing.

She said: “Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.”

Iran’s foreign minister will meet in Geneva today with counterparts from Britain, Germany and France, Iranian state media said. Foreign Secretary David Lammy is expected to attend.

Asked about Mr Trump’s expectations, Ms Leavitt said the message Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon “is something pretty much all of humanity, except the Iranian terrorist regime themselves, agree upon”. She added: “The president expects Europe will deliver that message directly to the Iranians.”

Mr Trump’s stance followed days of speculation on Washington’s role in Israel’s bombardment of military and nuclear facilities in the Islamic nation.

The president has come under intense pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for US forces to join the missile blitz on the nuclear hungry nation.