US President Donald Trump sidestepped a question about a possible weekend strike on Iran after US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack said such an attack was “absolutely” possible.
Asked on Friday about Barrack’s remarks, Trump appeared caught off guard.
“That was my ambassador to Turkey?” Trump asked, before adding, “He’s a pretty powerful man, I guess,” while turning toward Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
“If that’s the case, I don’t know anything about it,” Trump concluded.
Trump on Tom Barrack saying a strike on Iran could “absolutely” happen this weekend: “Well, if that’s the case, I don’t know anything about it.” https://t.co/aXCEqFansg
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) October 23, 2026
Barrack, a major Republican Party (GOP) donor who also serves as US special envoy to Syria and Iraq, made the comments during an interview with Dubai-based podcaster Mario Nawfal.
“Could there be a strike this weekend? Absolutely,” Barrack said, while stressing that Trump remained open to a diplomatic agreement after months of negotiations.
🇺🇸🇮🇷 BREAKING: AMB. TOM BARRACK WARNS U.S. STRIKE COULD HAPPEN THIS WEEKEND I asked Trump’s Special Envoy, Tom Barrack: “Could there be a strike on this this weekend? His answer was direct: "Absolutely.” Amb. Barrack laid out exactly where things stand with Iran right now. “The consequence won’t be regime change. The president is interested in rebalancing so that there’s no hostages, no threats, and the world can calm down.” Trump is "open and available and accessible to a deal, but he’s also been very clear about what he wants." And the Iranians may not be willing to give it to him… @USAMBTurkiye
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 23, 2026
Barrack also reiterated Washington’s threats of “further action if no deal is reached to end Iran’s nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz”.
He said the objective “was not regime change, but rather to eliminate what Washington considers threats and restore regional stability.”
“The problem with regime change always is—what’s the day two scenario?” Barrack asked.
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)