Israel threatens Iran’s supreme leader as Trump wavers on entering the war

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• Geoff Bennett:

  As the fighting between Israel and Iran now eclipses one week, President Trump said today that he will temporarily hold off on deciding whether the U.S. would get involved.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Mr. Trump said he will make his decision within two weeks to allow space for peace talks that could start as soon as tomorrow.

  In the meantime, Israel and Iran show no signs of backing down, with more and more civilians getting caught in the crossfire. Tonight, as the region awaits word on whether President Trump will launch U.S. forces…

• Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary:

  Good afternoon, everyone.

• Amna Nawaz:

  … White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt today made clear the president's decision is weeks away, not days, to allow space for dialogue.

• Karoline Leavitt:

  I have a message directly from the president — and I quote — "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."

• Amna Nawaz:

  That's as the war between Israel and Iran rages on, inflicting a heavier and heavier toll as the conflict reached its seventh day.

  Iranian strikes injured dozens of people at Soroka Medical Center, the largest hospital in Southern Israel. No one was killed as patients were evacuated on gurneys, but entire wings of the facility were left in tatters.

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured the damage today.

• Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:

  We're targeting military sites. We're targeting nuclear sites. We're targeting missile sites. They're targeting a hospital.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Iranian officials claimed they targeted military installations nearby. Elsewhere, homes and high-rises in Tel Aviv hollowed out from blasts, as hundreds of people have been hurt across Israel.

  Meanwhile, in Iran, Israel continued its relentless strikes. Israel says it's not targeted Iranian civilians, but a U.S.-based Iranian human rights group says hundreds have been killed. The Tehran Times memorializing the victims, entire families, an 8-year-old gymnast, a young flight attendant, and an equestrian champion, among others.

  The Israeli military points to strikes on nuclear targets, releasing video it claims shows a direct hit on the Arak heavy-water reactor, a potentially critical component of Iran's nuclear program. Iranian state TV said there was — quote — "no radiation danger" from the strike.

  Israel's defense minister today fanned the flames, calling for the assassination of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

• Israel Katz, Israeli Defense Minister (through interpreter):

  We decided on the goals of the war. The goals are to eliminate the nuclear threat. But amid this, the IDF has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key Iran ally, also issued a warning that the U.S. not get militarily involved.

  Tomorrow, in Geneva, a first opportunity to lower the temperature. Iran's foreign minister says he will pursue talks with his European counterparts, talks that the White House says it will be watching.

• Karoline Leavitt:

  The president is always interested in a diplomatic solution to the problems and the global conflicts in this world. Again, he is a peacemaker in chief. He is the peace through strength president. And so, if there's a chance for diplomacy, the president's always going to grab it.

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