Trump threatens Iran with ‘another little Epic Fury’ as US envoy says strikes possible this weekend

United States President Donald Trump warned Iran of potential military action, suggesting a "little Epic Fury" if a diplomatic solution cannot be reached. Speaking at a campaign rally in Florida, he alluded to previous military operations against Iran, including one in February codenamed 'Operation Epic Fury', which resulted in the death of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family.

Trump claimed that the US had "obliterated Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity" with two previous military strikes, stating that Iran had been "defeated militarily, financially, and otherwise."

Referring to recent US diplomat Tom Barrack's assertion that a strike on Iran could occur as early as this weekend, Trump claimed ignorance about any such plans. However, Barrack, the US point person on Syria, stated that a strike was a possibility, and emphasized that President Trump remained open to negotiations. Trump reiterated his willingness to engage in dialogue, asserting that he had been at the negotiating table for months.

A reporter probed Trump about the possibility of striking Iran ahead of the mid-term elections, to which Trump responded ambiguously, suggesting that his ambassador to Turkey was powerful but that he did not have knowledge of the ambassador's unverified claim.