What did Tom Barrack say about the possibility of a US strike on Iran this weekend?

Barrack told podcast host Mario Nawfal that a strike this weekend was possible. He said the possibility came amid mounting threats by Washington and Israel, while Trump remained open to a deal after months of talks.

Why did Tom Barrack say the United States was not seeking regime change in Iran?

Barrack said the U.S. president was not interested in regime change and asked what the day-two scenario would be after such a change. He said consequences could follow threats against the world, U.S. allies and the Gulf, but that consequence would not be regime change.

How did Donald Trump’s position on possible strikes against Iran change around the congressional elections?

Trump had signaled openness to resuming strikes after a long diplomatic deadlock, but earlier said they would not happen before the November 3 U.S. congressional elections. Barrack said Trump remained open and accessible to a deal, and that the two sides had been at the table for months.

US could strike Iran this weekend, envoy says

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Summary

The United States could strike Iran as soon as this weekend, Tom Barrack said Friday in an interview as he visited the Gulf. The U.S. envoy said President Donald Trump remained open to a deal after months of talks, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had repeatedly vowed to topple Iran’s clerical state. Barrack said the United States was not seeking regime change and warned that threats could bring consequences.

Key Facts

Barrack is the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and point man on Syria, but he does not have a direct role on Iran.
Trump had earlier said strikes would not happen before the U.S. congressional elections on November 3.
Netanyahu faces elections Tuesday and has made his threats following two major bombing campaigns against Iran since last year.
Barrack said the United States was not interested in regime change and questioned what would follow such a change.

By AFP

Published Oct 24, 2026 3:34 am KST

Iranian missiles are displayed next to a banner with a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, on a street in Tehran, Iran, Sept. 27. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters-Yonhap

JERUSALEM — The United States could strike Iran as soon as this weekend, a U.S. envoy said Friday, after mounting threats by both Washington and Israel.

"Could there be a strike this weekend? Absolutely," Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and point man on Syria who does not have a direct role on Iran, told podcast host Mario Nawfal.

President Donald 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 in an interview as he visited the Gulf.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces elections Tuesday, has in recent days repeatedly vowed to topple the clerical state in Iran, following two major bombing campaigns against it since last year.

Trump has also signalled an openness to resuming strikes after a long deadlock in diplomacy, although he earlier said it would not happen before U.S. congressional elections on November 3.

Barrack, in remarks that contradict Netanyahu, said the U.S. was not looking to topple the Islamic republic, a sworn enemy of the United States and Israel since a 1979 revolution 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," Barrack said.

"The United States — the president of the United States — has said he's not interested in regime change," he added.

"The problem with regime change always is, what's the day-two scenario?"

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