US envoy says strike on Iran possible this weekend amid rising tensions

US envoy Tom Barrack said on October 23 that the United States could launch strikes against Iran as early as the coming weekend. Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and point man on Syria, answered “Absolutely” when asked on Israeli army radio about a possible attack, even though he does not have a direct role in Iran policy. President Donald Trump was quoted as remaining “open and available” to a diplomatic deal after months of talks, while also noting that any military action would likely be delayed until after the US congressional elections on November 3. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces elections on Tuesday, October 27, reiterated his vow to topple Iran’s clerical rule and ordered a full lockdown of the occupied West Bank following a gunbattle in Hebron that left two Palestinians dead and two Israeli soldiers killed with three wounded. Iran’s IRGC political bureau chief Brig‑Gen Yadollah Javani warned that a ground invasion would turn Iran into a “graveyard” for foreign troops and questioned US ability to sustain forces in the region. Majidreza Hariri, president of the Iran‑China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, accused Trump of backing off after oil prices rose toward $120 a barrel, calling the president’s earlier war talk “bragging”. Akasa Air extended flight suspensions to Jeddah until Nov 10 and Riyadh until Nov 30, 2026, citing the security situation in Saudi Arabia.

Context

The threat of a US‑Iran strike comes as both Washington and Jerusalem pressure Tehran after a series of regional bombings, while domestic elections in the US and Israel add political calculations to any decision.