• Trump gives Iran a "maximum" two-week deadline to negotiate or face potential U.S. airstrikes.
• Israel claims to have delayed Iran's nuclear capabilities by two years amid ongoing bombings.
• Iran refuses to negotiate unless Israeli attacks cease, while Trump expresses skepticism of European mediation.
• The U.S. may involve military action alongside Israel, with Trump's decision expected soon.
• Escalating conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides.

U.S. President Donald Trump has set a "maximum" two-week deadline for Iran to return to negotiations, indicating that the window could close sooner if Tehran does not respond favorably. Trump stated, "I'm giving them a period of time, and I would say two weeks would be the maximum," while also expressing skepticism about Iran's willingness to engage in discussions with European nations, saying, "Europe is not going to be able to help in this," according to aa and indiatimes.

Trump's comments come as Israeli air strikes have reportedly set back Iran's nuclear program by two years. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar noted, "According to the assessment we hear, we already delayed for at least two or three years the possibility for them to have a nuclear bomb," according to scmp and channelnewsasia.

Despite Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's insistence that negotiations cannot proceed unless the Israeli attacks cease, Trump downplayed the request to ask Israel to halt its military operations. "If somebody's winning, it's a little bit harder to do than if somebody is losing," he remarked, as Israel continued its onslaught against what it calls Iranian military sites, according to abcnews and scmp.

Trump's administration appears poised to consider military action alongside Israel in a bid to dismantle Iran's perceived nuclear threats. The potential use of U.S. military assets, including specialized bunker-busting bombs for targeting Iran's underground facilities, has been discussed, reflecting heightened tensions in the region following increasing hostilities since June 13, according to scmp and channelnewsasia.

The ongoing conflict has already resulted in significant casualties, with reports indicating at least 657 fatalities in Iran since the escalation of attacks, including civilians and military personnel. On the Israeli side, counter-attacks have also resulted in injuries, contributing to a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation as both nations engage in extensive military operations, according to scmp and channelnewsasia.