Tom Barrack: Tensions with Iran may calm “within the next two weeks”

Tom Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria and Iraq, said he hopes tensions in the Middle East will subside over the next two weeks, in light of fears of renewed air strikes on Iran.

In a virtual interview with CNN anchor Becky Anderson, Tom Barrack said: “I think in the next two weeks we may see dramatic steps forward, with everyone saying: Let's calm things down.”

He added: "We are getting close. I think we are very close to a stage where we can finally say: Let's take a break," adding that it is, however, "a matter of confidence and who will start first."

CNN reported, citing two American officials, that American forces in the Middle East are ready to launch new, potentially major, military operations against Iran “within 96 hours of receiving” an order to do so from President Donald Trump.

Tom Barrack explained that Qatar, which is acting as a mediator in the war, submitted a “7-day proposal” to Iran, and that Tehran is currently “studying” it.

Reuters reported that the proposal submitted by Qatar sets a time frame of 7 days to address the concerns of Tehran and Washington. The agency quoted an official familiar with the negotiations as saying that this time frame may begin early next week, and several countries will act as guarantors of the agreement.

These negotiations come in light of a shift in American foreign policy towards the Middle East, as Barak said that Washington will not continue to be the sole security guarantor of the region.

Barak stressed that the United States will not abandon the Middle East and will not leave a security vacuum there.

"We're here, we're not leaving. I'm just saying we don't own it anymore," he said.