The United States has left open the possibility of striking Iran as soon as this weekend, raising the prospect of renewed military action despite President Donald Trump’s earlier indication that no attack would take place before the November 3 midterm elections.
Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and Washington’s point man on Syria, said a strike was possible, although he does not have a direct role in Iran policy.
“Could there be a strike this weekend? Absolutely,” Barrack said in an interview with Israeli army radio, responding to a question about the possibility of military action.
He stressed, however, that Trump remained open to a diplomatic agreement with Tehran, saying the two sides had been engaged in discussions for months.
“(President Trump) is very clear. He’s open and available and accessible to a deal, and we’ve been at the table for months and months and months,” Barrack said.
The remarks came amid mounting threats from Washington and Israel, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly vowing in recent days to topple Iran’s clerical government. Netanyahu faces elections on Tuesday.
The latest threats follow two major bombing campaigns against Iran since last year.
Trump has also indicated that he could resume military strikes after a prolonged diplomatic deadlock, although he had earlier said action would not take place before the US congressional midterm elections on November 3.
Speaking on Friday, the US president reiterated that Washington could choose to end the war through renewed military action or allow Iran to “wither” under sanctions.
Barrack, however, said the US was not seeking to overthrow Iran’s Islamic Republic, which has been a sworn enemy of Washington and Israel since the 1979 revolution that toppled the pro-Western Shah.
“If you keep threatening the world, our allies, the Gulf, there will be a consequence. The consequence won’t be regime change,” he said.
“The United States — the president of the United States — has said he’s not interested in regime change,” Barrack added.
He also questioned the consequences of attempting to overthrow the Iranian government, asking: “The problem with regime change always is, what’s the day-two scenario?”
The envoy’s comments suggest that, while Washington is keeping the option of military action open, it continues to present negotiations as a possible alternative to further escalation.
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