US envoy Tom Barrack suggests military strikes on Iran possible this weekend as Trump plays down claims

Imminent military action raised by US envoy

The United States could strike Iran as early as this weekend, according to senior US diplomat Tom Barrack, though President Donald Trump has publicly distanced himself from the claims.

Speaking in a podcast interview with Mario Nawfal during a visit to the Gulf, Mr Barrack—who serves as US Ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria—was asked directly whether American military action against Tehran could occur over the coming days.

"Could there be a strike this weekend? Absolutely," Mr Barrack said, adding that Washington remained open to a diplomatic resolution but warning that continued threats to regional stability would bring direct consequences.

When asked about the remarks in Florida, Mr Trump played down the prospect of an immediate strike and suggested he had not authorised any such announcement.

"That was my ambassador? He's a pretty powerful man, I guess," Mr Trump told reporters. "If that's the case, I don't know anything about it."

Divergent positions on regime change

The comments come at a delicate moment for Middle Eastern diplomacy, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly calling for the overthrow of Iran's government following two recent bombing campaigns. Israel holds national elections on Tuesday, 27 October.

However, Mr Barrack explicitly ruled out regime change as an American goal, contrasting Washington's position with the rhetoric coming from Jerusalem.

"If you keep threatening the world, our allies, the Gulf, there will be a consequence. The consequence won't be regime change," Mr Barrack said. "The President of the United States has said he's not interested in regime change. The problem with regime change always is, what's the day-two scenario?"

Diplomatic deadlocks and upcoming elections

Negotiations between Washington and Tehran have remained stalled for months despite extended discussions. While Mr Trump previously signalled that any further military action would be unlikely before the US congressional elections on 3 November, recent escalation across the region has kept military options on the table.

Tehran has maintained a defiant posture against both American and Israeli pressure since two major bombing operations targeted its infrastructure over the past year. With regional allies in the Gulf watching closely, Washington's official posture remains focused on deterrence rather than nation-building or political restructuring in Iran.

Whether Mr Barrack's comments reflect genuine operational planning or calculated diplomatic pressure remains unconfirmed, as neither the White House nor the US Department of Defense has issued formal operational orders confirming imminent strikes.