US Could Strike Iran as Early as This Weekend, Envoy Says

The United States could launch a strike against Iran as early as this weekend, US Ambassador to Turkiye Tom Barrack said on Friday, amid escalating threats from Washington and Israel.

Speaking to podcast host Mario Nawfal during a visit to the Gulf, Barrack said President Donald Trump remained open to a diplomatic agreement with Tehran despite months of stalled negotiations.

“Could there be a strike this weekend? Absolutely,” Barrack said, adding that Trump was willing to negotiate a deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed in recent days to topple Iran’s clerical leadership. His remarks come after two major bombing campaigns against Iran since last year.

Trump has also indicated that he could consider resuming military strikes following a prolonged diplomatic deadlock. However, he had earlier suggested that such action would not take place before the US congressional elections scheduled for November 3.

Barrack, however, stressed that regime change was not Washington’s objective, drawing a distinction between the US position and Netanyahu’s stated ambitions.

“If you keep threatening the world, our allies, the Gulf, there will be a consequence. The consequence won’t be regime change,” Barrack said.

He added that Trump had made it clear that the United States was not interested in overthrowing Iran’s Islamic Republic, which has been a longstanding adversary of Washington and Israel since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Barrack also questioned the consequences of attempting to overthrow a government, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding what would follow such a move.

“The problem with regime change always is, what’s the day-two scenario?” he said.

There was no immediate confirmation from the White House that a strike against Iran had been scheduled.