New Delhi, Oct 25: US President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington could launch fresh military strikes against Iran as early as Sunday, while leaving open the possibility of a diplomatic agreement, keeping the region on edge amid an unresolved conflict between the two sides, media reports said.
Speaking to reporters in Florida on Saturday after casting his ballot in the US midterm elections, Trump declined to confirm whether a military operation had been decided upon but acknowledged that an attack was under consideration.
“Maybe tomorrow,” Trump said when asked about the possibility of renewed strikes, adding that Washington could also reach what he described as a “nice, big, beautiful agreement” with Tehran. He questioned, however, whether Iran would honour any agreement reached with the United States.
The remarks followed Trump’s warning on Friday that the United States might carry out “another little Epic Fury”, referring to the name used for its military operation against Iran. Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey, had also suggested that an American strike could take place over the weekend, saying such an operation was a possibility.
Trump has maintained that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a central objective of US military action. His latest comments, however, offered no confirmation of an attack or a definitive timeline for any military decision.
The uncertainty comes as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain stalled. The war began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior military officials, according to reports.
Iran retaliated with attacks on American bases in the region, while disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments, added to concerns over oil supplies and international economic stability.
Efforts to secure a lasting settlement have failed to resolve the differences between Washington and Tehran. An interim understanding reached in June envisaged a cessation of hostilities and further negotiations, but the arrangement subsequently broke down amid mutual accusations of violations and a lack of trust.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday blamed Washington for the collapse of recent negotiations but indicated that another attempt at reaching an agreement should be made, Reuters reported. Tehran has continued to express interest in diplomacy even as tensions over renewed military action persist.
