US Weighs Options: Trump to Decide on Iran Strike within Two Weeks

(The Post News)- As the clash between Iran and Israel approaches day eight, U.S. President Donald Trump is yet to decide whether to attack Iran within two weeks. This comes after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump’s decision in a press conference yesterday.

Delivering a message direct from Trump, Leavitt says the decision whether the U.S. will strike Iran will be determined by the negotiations between the two countries. In the press conference when journalists asked what the message was for Trump supporters who might be concerned about the U.S. involvement in a clash between Iran and Israel, Leavitt said the public should have trust in Trump, and they should keep in mind that he is ensuring that Iran does not construct nuclear weapons effectively.

Meanwhile, Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh says it would be a disaster if the U.S. had to decide on attacking Iran. He says that this is not an American war, and if Trump carries on with the attack, he will be remembered as a leader who joined a war that he does not belong in. Khatibzadeh further warned that involvement would lead to a deeper, more complex conflict, prolong aggression, and delay an end to the horrific violence.

Nonetheless, Democrats in the U.S. do not agree with the attack; they have proposals to limit the strike. Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, says the U.S. shouldn’t involve itself with war without a vote of Congress. Kaine has been advocating for more than 10 years to revoke the authorisation for military force passed after 9/11, which has been relied upon by Democratic and Republican presidents to launch military strikes.

A strict interpretation of the Constitution implies that Trump, or any president, should seek Congressional approval before launching military action against another country. Although the US has been involved in numerous conflicts since World War II, Congress has not formally declared war in over 70 years.