TRUMP WARNS IRAN OF FURTHER US STRIKES IF TALKS FAIL

US President Donald Trump said Washington could strike Iran again if Tehran failed to reach a deal with the United States. “We may do another little Epic Fury,” Trump said at a rally in Florida on Friday. Epic Fury is the US military’s name for its war against Iran. Trump also said, “If they're smart, they'll just say, 'Let's get down to business.' But, you know, I doubt they'll do that because perhaps they're not smart.”

Trump’s remarks followed comments by Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and Washington’s point person on Syria. Barrack spoke to podcast host Mario Nawfal during a visit to the Gulf. Asked whether the United States could strike Iran over the weekend, Barrack said, “Could there be a strike this weekend? Absolutely.” Before the rally, Trump appeared to distance himself from Barrack’s comments when asked about a possible attack that weekend.

Earlier on Friday, Trump said the United States could end the war with Iran quickly. He questioned whether Washington should end the conflict immediately or allow it to lose momentum gradually. At the rally, Trump referred to US Navy forces in the Caribbean and American warships returning from the Middle East. He joked that the returning ships might confront Cuba before Senator Marco Rubio completed his diplomatic objectives.