Karoline Leavitt Shares Major Update on Growing Israel-Iran Conflict

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has provided a key update regarding the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, revealing that President Donald Trump is weighing his options carefully amid rising global concerns.

Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, Leavitt announced that President Trump has not yet decided whether the U.S. will deploy “bunker buster” bombs to target Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility.

The president, she said, is giving the situation approximately two more weeks to see if negotiations with Iran are possible before making a final decision.

“I have a message directly from the president,” Leavitt stated.

“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.”

The statement follows reports that the Iranian government has requested a direct meeting with the White House, reportedly prepared to send a delegation to discuss de-escalation efforts.

Meanwhile, Israel has continued its strikes against military and nuclear sites within Iran, strongly urging the U.S. to assist with targeting Fordow, which is located deep inside a mountain and resistant to standard military strikes.

Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, emphasized the importance of Fordow in achieving lasting security, stating:

“The entire operation… really has to be completed with the elimination of Fordow.”

When asked by reporters whether destroying Fordow was a condition for a peace deal, President Trump replied:

“No, it’s just something that people talk about having. We’re the only ones that have the capability to do it, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to do it at all.”

He highlighted America’s unmatched military strength but reiterated that no decision has yet been made.

Conflicting Reports and Rising Tensions

President Trump also addressed rumors of outreach to Iran for peace talks, directly refuting reports by Axios:

“I have not reached out to Iran for ‘Peace Talks’ in any way, shape, or form. This is just more HIGHLY FABRICATED, FAKE NEWS!” he wrote on Truth Social.

“If they want to talk, they know how to reach me. They should have taken the deal that was on the table — would have saved a lot of lives!” he added, later calling for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”

Concerns Over China’s Role

Adding further complexity to the crisis, recent reports revealed that several cargo planes from China have disappeared from radar near Iran’s airspace.

Public flight tracking showed at least three Boeing 747 freighters — typically used for transporting military supplies — vanishing from radar shortly after crossing Central Asia.

While the official flight plans listed Luxembourg as their destination, none of the aircraft appeared to continue toward Europe, sparking speculation that China may be covertly providing support to Iran.

Trump, via spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, said he will make a decision on striking Iran within the next two weeks. pic.twitter.com/DqKJnCTzA5

— Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) June 19, 2025

According to experts, Beijing has a long history of supplying Tehran with various military materials, including components for ballistic missiles.

“These cargos cannot but generate a lot of interest because of the expectation that China might do something to help Iran,” noted Andrea Ghiselli, a lecturer at the University of Exeter specializing in China-Middle East relations.