Trump Warns of Fresh Strikes on Iran, Citing “Another Little Epic Fury”

Synopsis

In a speech to a rally in Fort Myers, Florida on Friday, President Donald Trump threatened Iran with another “little Epic Fury” if it doesn't sign a deal. The comment came after U.S. envoy Tom Barrack suggested a strike may be imminent this weekend, to which Trump had pulled back. Diplomats in Istanbul, representing the region and Europe, have also warned that a new strike would expand the war, and Iran's military claimed it is ready to strike American warships.

What Trump said

“They'll agree, or we may do another little Epic Fury,” President Donald Trump said at a campaign event at Alico Arena in Fort Myers on Friday. It is a reference to the combined Israeli-American attack that started the war at the end of February. He did not elaborate on what he meant.

An expression and ambiguous message of an envoy

But Mr Trump separated himself hours earlier from his envoy Tom Barrack who had indicated that an American assault might be launched as early as this weekend as he arrived in Florida. He has indicated before that he is willing to consider restarting strikes after a protracted diplomatic impasse, but not before the November 3 congressional elections.

He has also wondered about the possibility of ending the conflict early via big strikes, or whether to wait for pressure from a naval blockade and sanctions to take its toll.

Tehran’s response

In the statement, made on Saturday, state media quoted General Ali Abdollahi, head of the general staff of the armed forces, as saying that Iran is ready to strike any US ship approaching its waters. The Revolutionary Guard have outlined its philosophy as being more aggressive and attacking cables that facilitate undersea communication if the Iranian civilian infrastructure is targeted.

Diplomacy and the wider region

Turkiye's Hakan Fidan at the meeting in Istanbul, in which neither the US nor Iran was represented, said a new attack would expand the war. Germany has blamed Iran and Houthis for instabilizing the region, in the words of its Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. The Saudi government has been evacuated of many diplomatic staffers reportedly at the request of Washington.

Brent crude climbed to nearly $117 per barrel. The conflict has now entered its eighth month and the midterm elections in the United States are November 3.