Trump opens two-week window for Iran diplomacy amid escalating conflict with Israel
Washington DC: US President Donald Trump has granted a two-week window for diplomatic engagement with Iran before deciding on possible military intervention, even as Israel continues its bombing campaign targeting Iranian infrastructure, according to a CNN report.
Trump and his advisers are hoping that sustained Israeli strikes and Iran’s missile losses may pressure Tehran into halting its uranium enrichment, a core demand from Washington that Iran has long resisted. The temporary pause in escalation is also being seen as a calculated move by Trump to avoid entangling the United States in another prolonged foreign conflict.
Despite suggestions of sending Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Vice President JD Vance to the region, both remain in Washington as no formal negotiations have been scheduled. Meanwhile, European foreign ministers from Britain, Germany, and France are set to meet with Iranian representatives in Geneva on Friday to revisit Witkoff’s earlier proposal.
However, Tehran has reiterated it will not engage in talks with the US unless Israel ceases its bombing campaign. Iranian officials have accused Washington of failing to restrain Israeli aggression, further hardening their stance.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that diplomacy remains on the table, but warned of American military strength if diplomacy fails. "Iran and the entire world should know that the United States military is the strongest and most lethal fighting force in the world," she said.
Inside the Situation Room, Trump has reviewed multiple military options, including the possible use of bunker-buster bombs on Iran's underground nuclear facility at Fordow. However, concerns over the potential for a multi-year war have led Trump and several of his advisers, including former strategist Steve Bannon, to approach the situation with caution.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been in active contact with allies, stressing the need to ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons. Ahead of Friday's Geneva meeting, Rubio spoke with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who reiterated, "Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon."
A senior White House official described the upcoming Geneva talks as a "temperature check" to assess Iran's willingness to engage diplomatically amid escalating hostilities.
Special Envoy Witkoff has maintained indirect channels with Tehran, but there has been no sign of a shift in Iran’s position through third-party mediators.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have sharply escalated since June 13, when Israel launched Operation "Rising Lion," striking targets linked to Iran’s nuclear program. Iran responded with retaliatory missile attacks, marking a dangerous new phase in the conflict.
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BLO deployed for SIR in Rajasthan dies after collapsing; postmortem to ascertain cause of death
Jaipur (PTI): A booth-level officer (BLO) deployed for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Rajasthan’s Kotputli-Behror district died after collapsing on his way home, officials said on Thursday.
Police said the cause of death will be ascertained only after the post-mortem report is received.
According to officials, Vijay Gurjar (42) was posted as a BLO and had been working at the Government Sardar Senior Secondary School in Kotputli.
He suddenly fell on the road while returning home on Wednesday evening and suffered injuries. His family took him to the government BDM District Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
After the incident, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ramavatar Meena, Tehsildar Ramdhan Gurjar and senior police officers reached the hospital. The police conducted a post-mortem through a medical board and handed over the body to the family.
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A case has been registered at Kotputli police station.
Kotputli Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rajendra Kumar said the reason behind Gurjar's collapse is unclear and will be determined only after the medical report.
"Vijay's SIR work had already been completed on December 4. There was no pressure on him and no notice issued to him," SDM Meena said, adding that the administration had been regularly counselling and assisting BLOs during the exercise.
Family members said Gurjar did not return home until late Wednesday night, prompting a search. He was found unconscious a short distance from his home in Karwas village.
