Barrack had said the United States could launch strikes against Iran as early as this weekend.
US President Donald Trump has said he is unaware of any plans for a possible US strike on Iran this weekend, after US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack suggested that military action could take place within days.
Asked by reporters in Florida about Barrack’s remarks and whether Washington had reversed its position on holding off on strikes until after the US midterm elections, Trump appeared surprised.
“That was my ambassador? He’s a pretty powerful man, I guess. Well, if that’s the case, I don’t know anything about it,” Trump said.
What Did Barrack Say?
Barrack had said the United States could launch strikes against Iran as early as this weekend while speaking to podcast host Mario Nawfal in an interview published on Friday.
“Could there be a strike this weekend? Absolutely,” Barrack said, while stressing that Trump remained open to reaching a diplomatic agreement with Tehran.
“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,” he added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces elections on Tuesday, has repeatedly vowed in recent days to topple Iran’s clerical state, following two major bombing campaigns against the country since last year.
Trump has also indicated that he is open to resuming strikes after a prolonged diplomatic deadlock, although he had earlier said military action would not take place before the US congressional elections on November 3.