US Could "Absolutely" Strike Iran This Weekend, Says Envoy

US envoy Tom Barrack stated on Friday that the United States could launch military strikes against Iran as early as this weekend, following threats from both Washington and Israel. Barrack, who is the US Ambassador to Turkey and serves as a key advisor on Syria, expressed this sentiment during an interview with podcast host Mario Nawfal. He was in the Gulf when he made the comments.

Despite Barrack's comments, President Donald Trump downplayed the possibility, stating that he is open to a deal and has been negotiating with Iran for months. Trump, a close friend of Barrack, acknowledged Barrack's powerful position but said he had no prior knowledge of the potential strike.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing elections on Tuesday, has vowed to overthrow the Iranian regime, following a series of airstrikes against Iran since last year. Trump has also signaled a willingness to resume strikes after a lengthy diplomatic stalemate, though he initially stated it would not occur before the November 3 US congressional elections.

Barrack contradicted Netanyahu's claims, insisting that the US does not seek to topple Iran, a sworn enemy of the United States and Israel since the 1979 revolution. He emphasized that the US is not interested in regime change, questioning the consequences of such a move.

Barrack warned that if Iran continues to threaten the world and its allies in the Gulf, there will be consequences, although he did not specify what these might be.