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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman. The White House is weighing its options as President Trump continues to hold off on any decision to strike Iran. The possibility of U.S. involvement in Israel's campaign against Iran comes after the Israeli military launched airstrikes on Iranian military sites and Iran responded with missile attacks in southern Israel. NPR's Windsor Johnson has been following developments and joins us live here in the studio. Windsor?
Well, Korva, even with rising tensions and military action on both sides, there's still a question hanging over all of this. Is there any room at this point for a diplomatic resolution?
Some officials have warned that the situation could spiral quickly, but others say there may be still some time to pull back to ease tensions. I spoke with Alex Vitanca, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C., this morning, and he told me that diplomatic channels are still open.
Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, his speech yesterday, he didn't shut the door when it comes to diplomacy, but he could have spoken much more forcefully about his desire to be ready to sort of make the sort of bigger compromises that it takes for President Trump and Netanyahu to say they achieved the objective of essentially forcing Iran to stand up.
We didn't hear that from Khamenei yesterday. It was more of a, you know, a speech of we will fight to the end if that's what we have to do. And while diplomacy may still be on the table here, so is military force. U.S. aircraft and support systems are said to be in place in the region, giving President Trump the option to act quickly if he chooses. But again, right now, the president hasn't given any
any indication of what his next steps might be. And Pierre is Windsor Johnston live in the studio.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says the Kremlin can broker peace talks between Israel and Russia's ally Iran. Putin's comments came on the sidelines of an annual economic forum in Russia's second city of St. Petersburg. From St. Petersburg, NPR's Charles Maines has details. Speaking to journalists, Putin said Israeli strikes had failed to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities underground.
and called for renewed diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting. The Russian leader stressed that despite a strategic partnership with Iran, the agreement with Tehran was not a mutual defense pact. Neither, Putin said, had Iran asked for military aid. Instead, Russia has offered to mediate the conflict, with Putin saying he felt an agreement that secured both Iran's civilian nuclear program and Israel's security could be found. Yet President Trump has dismissed the Russian initiative, saying he told Putin in a recent conversation to instead focus on ending the war in Ukraine.
Charles Mainz, NPR News, St. Petersburg. Stock markets are closed today on this federal holiday of Juneteenth. You're listening to NPR News. This message comes from Amazon Business. With smart business buying, get everything you need to grow in one familiar place, from office supplies to IT essentials and maintenance tools. Ready to bring your visions to life? Learn how at AmazonBusiness.com.