Israel-Iran Conflict Live Updates, June 21, 2025 - Mixed Messages from Trump: Ceasefire Talks Amid Threats of Swift Action on Iran

      Updated: June 21, 2025 | 11:11 am IST

U.S. President Donald Trump today, Saturday, June 21st, deepened the uncertainty surrounding the United States' potential involvement in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, sending mixed signals that hinted at a possible ceasefire while simultaneously reiterating warnings of potential U.S. military action.

Speaking to reporters after an event in New Jersey on Friday (late night IST), Trump indicated he might consider backing a ceasefire "depending on the circumstances" but also suggested that he could order military action sooner than the two-week deadline he had flagged just a day earlier.

"I'm giving them a period of time," the U.S. president said, referring to Iran. "I would say two weeks would be the maximum." However, he added, "It's very hard to stop when you look at it," referring to Israel's ongoing strikes, and said, "If somebody is winning, it's a little bit harder to do than if somebody is losing."

These comments highlight a tension in Trump's approach:

• Hint of Ceasefire: His statement about potentially supporting a ceasefire indicates a diplomatic opening, despite his earlier strong rhetoric about Iran's "unconditional surrender."
• Accelerated Deadline: Suggesting action could come sooner than two weeks contradicts the impression given yesterday that a two-week window for diplomacy was firmly in place.
• Skepticism on Halting Israeli Strikes: When asked about Iran's foreign minister suggesting that the U.S. could call on Israel to stop its strikes to further negotiations, Trump responded, "I think it's very hard to make that request right now." He emphasized Israel's perceived military advantage, stating, "Israel's doing well in terms of war. And, I think, you would say that Iran is doing less well. It's a little bit hard to get somebody to stop."
• Dismissal of European Mediation: Trump openly dismissed European efforts to find a diplomatic solution, following Friday's talks in Geneva between European foreign ministers and their Iranian counterpart. "Iran doesn't want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this one," he asserted.

Compounding the mixed signals, Trump also publicly contradicted his Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions. When informed that Gabbard had previously stated to Congress in March that U.S. spy agencies believed Iran wasn't working on nuclear warheads, Trump replied, "Well then, my intelligence community is wrong. Who in the intelligence community said that?" Upon being told it was Gabbard, he stated, "She's wrong." This disavowal adds another layer of complexity to the administration's messaging on Iran.

The White House had stated on Thursday that Trump would decide within two weeks whether the U.S. military would get directly involved, citing a "substantial chance of negotiations." However, Trump's latest remarks suggest he may act sooner if there is no significant movement from Iran regarding its nuclear program. He maintained, "We're ready, willing and able, and we've been speaking to Iran, and we'll see what happens."

Trump's fluctuating statements leave global observers uncertain about the U.S.'s ultimate course of action in the intensifying Israel-Iran conflict.