Regarding the ongoing situation in Iran, I know there has been a lot of speculation amongst all of you in the media regarding the president's decision making and whether or not the United States will be directly involved.

In light of that news, I have a message directly from the president, and I quote,

based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran

in the near future. I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.

That's a quote directly from the president for all of you today. As for correspondence between

the United States and the Iranians, I can confirm that correspondence has continued.

As you know, we were engaged with six rounds of negotiations with them in both indirect and direct ways.

In implementing a peace through strength foreign policy agenda, and with respect to Iran,

nobody should be surprised by the president's position that Iran absolutely cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.

He's been unequivocally clear about this for decades, not just as president, not just as a presidential candidate, but also as a private citizen.

In fact, I have some quotes for you. In 2011, President Trump said America's primary goal with Iran must be to destroy its nuclear ambitions.

We cannot allow this radical regime to acquire a nuclear weapon that they will either use or hand off to terrorists.

In 2015, the president said the problem is that Iran poses an existential threat to Israel, our Middle Eastern allies, and the United States.

And of course, the president has repeated that

in his first term as president and his second term as president as well. That's why he was

adamantly opposed to the disastrous Iranian nuclear agreement that was implemented by

President Obama. And it's why he has given great latitude and given a lot of effort to achieving

a diplomatic solution. But he's been

very clear. Iran went for 60 days when he gave them that 60 day warning without coming to the

table. On day 61, Israel took action against Iran. And as I just told you from the president

directly, he will make a decision within two weeks.

When you are in a pivotal moment for a presidency, which I think it is fair to call this

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