Trump Hints US Could Strike Iran Again as Early as Today

US President Donald Trump has said the United States could launch a fresh strike on Iran as early as this Sunday. In remarks made on Saturday, he also kept open the possibility of reaching a deal with Iran, sharply raising Washington-Tehran tensions once again.

Answering a reporter's question in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said, 'We are thinking about it, and maybe tomorrow (this Sunday).' He made the remark when asked when a possible military operation might be carried out.

However, Trump refused to say clearly whether Washington will strike Iran, or if it does, exactly when. His vague position has made the situation even more uncertain.

He said he might have to settle the matter finally by using military force, while Iran could also agree to a deal. He also said he was not sure whether Tehran would abide by a deal.

But he claimed that in any situation, the United States would win. Trump said his goal is to ensure Iran can never build a nuclear weapon in the future. Restating his hard line against Tehran, he said Iran must not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon under any circumstances.

The remarks came after comments Trump made at a rally in Florida on Friday. At that rally he said the United States could carry out another small 'Epic Fury' operation against Iran. 'Epic Fury' is the name of the US military operation against Iran that began on February 28.

Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned on Saturday that even a limited military operation against the country would be answered with several times greater force.

IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi said most of the United States' hostile statements are aimed at the media. He claimed those threatening an attack do not have the capability to carry out an effective military operation in the current situation.

Mohebbi said they know better than anyone else that in the current situation they cannot carry out an effective operation and cannot achieve their goals. If past military operations are repeated, the result will also be defeat, he commented.

In Mohebbi's words, even if the enemy takes a limited step, Iran's response will be several times stronger because of the current preparedness and military planning of its armed forces.

Earlier, US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack had said the United States could strike Iran this very weekend if it wanted. In his words, the possibility of such an attack 'certainly' exists. Barrack also serves as a special presidential envoy, working on Syria and Iraq alongside his role as ambassador to Turkey. In an interview video that spread online on Friday, he was heard saying, 'Could there be an attack this weekend? Absolutely.'

But President Trump later said he knew nothing about the possibility his envoy had raised. When reporters asked whether Trump had changed Washington's position of not striking Iran before the November 3 midterm elections, Trump appeared surprised by Barrack's comment. He asked, 'Is he my ambassador?' He then said he believed Barrack was a powerful person, but if the matter was true, he knew nothing about it.

US media reports have said the United States and Israel have prepared a plan to strike Iran after the midterm elections. The war that began over Iran after the February attack has still not been finally settled; despite a memorandum of understanding on a ceasefire and finalising a peace deal, disputes remain between the two sides. One of the main causes of this deadlock is disagreement over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz; because of the dispute over how shipping through this important waterway will be managed, a peace deal has not been finalised. All eyes are now on whether Washington takes any step this Sunday.