Trump envoy suggests weekend strike on Iran despite White House pledge to wait

President Donald Trump's envoy Tom Barrack said Friday that a US strike on Iran could occur as early as this weekend, while Trump himself suggested another military operation, contradicting the White House's pledge to wait until after the November 3 midterm elections. Barrack said Washington remained open to a diplomatic deal, noting negotiations had been underway for months. Trump said, "We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree," while White House spokesperson Anna Kelly had explicitly ruled out strikes before the vote. The war, approaching its ninth month, has driven gasoline prices to record highs and severely damaged Trump's popularity, with his approval rating at approximately 31%. The New York Times reported that US and Israeli militaries had developed detailed plans for a brief, intense operation against Iranian nuclear and energy facilities after the midterms. Iranian officials threatened to target data centers and undersea cables, while analysts warned of potential strikes on Saudi oil refineries. UN envoy Mike Waltz defended Trump's agreement with Russia to allow diesel imports, citing global shortages.