US strike on Iran possible this weekend, says envoy Tom Barrack

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack has said that a US strike on Iran is 'entirely possible' during the current weekend.

Asked whether a strike could happen this week, Barrack told commentator Mario Nawfal in an interview: 'Absolutely.' He added, 'The president is very clear. He is open and available to make a deal, and we have been at the table for months and months and months.'

He explained that the nuclear file and enrichment issues are 'details, punctuation marks in a chapter that needs to be closed,' noting that Washington is negotiating a deal that includes 'the release of frozen assets, lifting sanctions, halting military operations, and providing necessary support to Israel.'

Barrack warned, 'If we do not reach an agreement, and if you continue to threaten the world, our allies, and the Gulf states, there will be consequences.' He stressed, however, that these consequences 'will not be regime change,' as the US president 'is not interested in regime change, but in restoring balance so there are no hostages and no threats.' He questioned, 'The problem with regime change is always: what is the day-after scenario?'

This comes days after a New York Times report said the US and Israeli militaries had drawn up plans for new strikes against Iran following the midterm elections, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had emphasized to Trump the need to bring down the Iranian regime.