U.S. Envoy Barrack Says Iran Deal Is ‘Very Close’ as Regional Powers Mediate

U.S. envoy Tom Barrack said Washington was close to reaching an agreement aimed at temporarily reducing tensions with Iran, as Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye intensified diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation. Speaking to CNN’s Becky Anderson at the Global Perspectives event in Doha on October 29, Barrack said a comprehensive settlement was unlikely in the immediate future but expressed confidence that the parties could agree on a pause. He also argued that regional governments were increasingly taking responsibility for their own security arrangements, while rejecting competing narratives about a Greater Israel and a revived Ottoman Empire.

Barrack Says Iran Agreement Is ‘Very Close’

Barrack credited Qatar, Pakistan and other American partners with efforts to bring Washington and Tehran closer to negotiations. “Qatar, Pakistan and all of our allies have done a good job in trying to bring us into a room where we can have an agreement on our process, and we’re close,” he said. “I think we’re very close to finally getting to a place where we can say: let’s just have a timeout.”

The envoy emphasized that the objective was to reduce tensions rather than immediately resolve every outstanding dispute. “We’re not going to have an overall solution immediately, but we can allow the region to find its own pace,” he said.

Barrack suggested that tensions could begin easing within the next two weeks. He also referred to a seven-day option presented to Iran by Qatar, which he said was still under consideration. He did not announce that Tehran had accepted the proposal or that an agreement had been finalized.

Iran Leadership Losses Complicate Communication

Barrack acknowledged that establishing reliable communication with Iranian decision-makers had become increasingly difficult. He linked the problem to the killing of Iranian officials who had served as Washington’s counterparts during the conflict. “As we eliminate our counterparties within Iran, communication becomes much more difficult,” he said.

Barrack added that President Donald Trump had struggled to determine how decisions were being made within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, questioning the organization’s internal decision-making process and the incentives shaping its actions. The remarks highlighted the difficulties facing mediators attempting to establish a negotiating channel amid continued military tensions.

Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Lead Regional Efforts

Barrack described a changing diplomatic environment in which regional powers were taking a more active role in managing the conflict, specifically identifying Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye as countries engaging Iran to reduce tensions. “It’s amazing: we have Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye traveling to Iran to try to lower the temperatures at the same time as we’re aligned with them,” he said. “We’re all getting used to a different kind of foreign policy.”

The envoy said governments across the Middle East were increasingly aware that they would have to manage their relationships with Iran beyond the immediate American military presence. He cited regional concerns about being left to deal with a weakened but potentially dangerous Iran. “America, you’re eventually going to go home,” Barrack said, describing the regional perspective. “We’re going to be left with this wounded lion.”

U.S. Cannot Solve Every Regional Crisis, Barrack Says

Barrack argued that Washington could not remain the sole authority responsible for resolving Middle Eastern disputes. “The U.S. can’t solve everything,” he said. “The region taking responsibility for itself with new alignments, is absolutely the answer,” he added, noting that the process would require patience and accountability.

The envoy also expressed confidence that Gulf countries could manage their relationships with Iran through regional arrangements. “The Persian relationship in the Gulf has gone through many iterations,” he said. “They can handle it. They can figure out what their regional alliances are.” Barrack extended that argument to maritime security, saying regional governments would determine how to manage the straits.

Barrack Rejects ‘Greater Israel’ Narrative

Turning to Israel and regional territorial concerns, Barrack dismissed the idea that Israeli policy was moving toward a Greater Israel. “The path is not a Greater Israel, and I think that’s an illusion,” he said, arguing that the narrative was being advanced by Israel’s political opponents.

Barrack also defended Israel’s efforts to reassess security arrangements along its borders following the October 7 attacks. He suggested that competing narratives about Israeli and Turkish ambitions were shaped more by political perceptions than concrete policy. According to Barrack, audiences in Istanbul encounter expansive claims about Greater Israel, while audiences in Tel Aviv face similar claims about an emerging “Ottoman Empire 2.0.” “A lot of this is politics rather than substance,” he said.

Syria Wants Normalization With Israel, Envoy Says

Barrack pointed to Syria as an example of potential diplomatic accommodation, saying Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa had made clear that Damascus was not seeking confrontation with Israel. “Al-Sharaa has made it clear that it is not predatory toward Israel and that it wants peace and a normalization agreement,” Barrack said. He also suggested that Israel was increasingly concerned about the consequences of continued conflict.

The envoy did not announce any agreement between Israel and Syria or provide a timetable for normalization. His remarks presented Syria’s stated willingness to negotiate as part of a broader regional shift toward diplomatic arrangements.

Barrack Says Egypt Is Outside Mecca Agreement

Barrack also addressed Egypt’s position in the Mecca Agreement. “Egypt is out of the Mecca Agreement,” he said, attributing that position to Cairo’s existing treaty with Israel and its security agreement with Greece. Barrack did not elaborate on the agreement’s other participants or provide further details about Egypt’s involvement.

Regional Diplomacy Takes Center Stage

Barrack’s remarks presented a possible temporary agreement with Iran as the most immediate diplomatic objective. His comments came amid continued uncertainty over whether Washington would resume major military operations against Tehran, following U.S. warnings to Gulf states about a possible post-election campaign. The envoy expressed optimism about mediation efforts but acknowledged the difficulty of communicating with Iranian decision-makers.

He also emphasized that regional governments, rather than Washington alone, would have to shape longer-term security arrangements. No finalized agreement with Iran was announced during the interview.