Trump Appoints Tom Barrack Syria, Iraq Envoy as U.S.-Iran Talks Face 2 New Fronts
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 31
Trump Appoints Tom Barrack Syria, Iraq Envoy as U.S.-Iran Talks Face 2 New Fronts
10 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 31
Tom Barrack, already U.S. ambassador to Turkey, was given two added posts as special presidential envoy to Syria and Iraq in a Sunday move that broadens his role across three pivotal Middle East states.
Trump said the expansion is meant to deepen strategic cooperation with Damascus and Baghdad, while Barrack is expected to help push the administration’s goals of curbing Iranian proxies and securing a lasting regional settlement.
The appointment lands as U.S.-Iran negotiations remain unsettled: Trump said he is in no hurry to finalize a deal, has sought tougher nuclear terms, and warned military action could resume if diplomacy fails.
Northern Iraq has become an immediate pressure point after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards launched fresh strikes on separatist groups there, adding strain on Baghdad and complicating U.S. efforts to stabilize Iraq.
Barrack now sits at the intersection of Syria policy, Iraq’s security and Turkey’s broker role, giving one Trump ally a central hand in managing the wider fallout from the Iran confrontation.
With Iran's proxies weakening, can a new U.S. envoy finally secure a lasting Mideast peace deal?
As Israel pushes deeper into Lebanon, can a U.S.-Iran agreement survive the escalating regional conflict?