Trump: We May Attack Iran Tomorrow Or We May Get A Great Deal, Either Way We Win

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has engaged with Iran very effectively and may have to finish the job; that he is not certain whether Iran will sign a deal but that the US will win in either scenario; that he is considering the idea of striking Iran and it may happen tomorrow, and that the alternative is reaching a great and good deal with Iran, while declining to reveal the timing of any potential military operation.

"I engaged with Iran in a very effective way, and maybe I will have to finish the job, or maybe the Iranians will reach a deal," Trump said.

I am not sure whether Iran will sign a deal, but in either case we will win.

He added: "We are considering the idea of striking Iran, and maybe this happens tomorrow, but I will not reveal the timing of any potential military operation."

Trump said: "We may strike Iran and the other possibility is that we reach a great and good deal with this country."

The Intelligence Backdrop

Trump's statements arrive the same day the Wall Street Journal reported that US intelligence agencies have determined Iranian preparations to attack Americans throughout the Middle East have reached advanced stages, with Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton writing in a memo to Secretary Rubio that Iran has substantially increased efforts to target US personnel and that lethal plotting has reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and other countries. The US ordered the departure of diplomats and staff from its embassy in Saudi Arabia and other countries in recent days and evacuated personnel from military bases across the region in preparation for renewed fighting.

The Wall Street Journal separately observed a large shipment of standoff land attack missiles and bunker buster bombs arrive aboard the USS George Washington in the Arabian Sea, a sign that the ship's air wing is preparing for a significantly larger bombing campaign. When the additional carrier strike group and Marine Expeditionary Unit arrive in the theater, the US will have more than two dozen Navy ships in the Middle East. The State Department updated travel advisories for 13 Middle Eastern countries Friday over concerns about Iran and the Houthis.

The Two-Track Framing

Trump's formulation of "strike or deal, either way we win" represents his clearest public articulation yet of the binary choice he is presenting to Tehran in the final days before the November 3 midterms. He told a Florida crowd on Friday that he may do another "Epic Fury," using the name for the original US military campaign against Iran. He has been briefed on Pentagon options ranging from striking nuclear facilities and infrastructure to assaulting Iranian-controlled islands.

Iranian FM Araghchi warned in a recent social media post: "Last time you wanted to 'finish the job', Iran emerged even stronger. Want to try again? Be our guest. But be careful; we have unfinished jobs too." IRGC spokesman Mohebbi said Saturday that at the smallest enemy mistake, Iran's response will be several times greater, and that the enemy knows its internal situation is chaotic and effective military operations are not currently possible for it.

On the diplomatic track, Iran's parliament speaker Qalibaf told Pakistani mediator General Munir this week that Tehran has nothing new to say to Washington and America cannot gain Iran's trust unless it fulfills the seven conditions. Qatar's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that US-Iran negotiations are continuing. Witkoff declared after meeting Putin in St. Petersburg Wednesday that there is a foundation for a Ukraine ceasefire and separately carried messages on the Iran file.