US envoy says strike on Iran could come this weekend
One Turn followed this story across 2 editions, from Tehran, Iran on October 22, 2026. Newest first.
The United States and Israel have been at war with Iran, disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. US media have reported plans for a short, intensive bombing campaign.
US envoy Tom Barrack said on Friday the United States could strike Iran as soon as this weekend, and the US ambassador to the UN said the war could last another year. President Trump said Washington could end the war quickly or let it 'wither'. Two Iranian security officials told Reuters that Tehran has plans to target Gulf undersea communications cables if attacked again.
Why it matters: Threats of renewed strikes and Iranian retaliation against Gulf infrastructure are pushing up energy prices worldwide.
A person briefed on war planning told NPR that the US and Israel are preparing plans for a possible attack on Iran in early November, after the November 3 US midterm elections, and other reports said targets could include energy sites, drone facilities and missile arsenals. Washington has said it has no plans to renew strikes before the midterms. Iran said it is prepared, and Gulf states are bracing for a possible return to full-scale war.
Why it matters: Renewed strikes could widen the conflict to Gulf states that Iran has threatened to target.