US President Donald Trump said he would decide whether to attack Iran within the next two weeks due to a “significant” possibility of negotiations.

His comments came as Israel and its regional rival continued to exchange fire for a seventh day, AFP reported.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from Trump saying there had been “a lot of speculation” about whether the US would “engage directly.”

“Based on the fact that there is a significant possibility of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make a decision on whether to act or not within the next two weeks,” Trump's statement said.

Leavitt did not elaborate on what led the US president to believe that negotiations with Tehran were possible.

On June 18, Trump said Iran had asked to send representatives to the White House to negotiate an agreement on its nuclear program and end the conflict with Israel. Tehran denied it would do so.

Leavitt said that “correspondence continues” between the US and Iran when asked about reports that Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff had been in contact with the Iranian foreign minister.

However, she explained that she was “not following” whether Witkoff would go to Geneva for talks with Iran.

Trump held his third meeting in three days in the heavily guarded White House Situation Room as he continued to consider whether to join Israel's bombing campaign.

On June 18, the US president said he “may or may not” take military action against Iran when asked. | BGNES