WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump revealed Sunday that Iran’s newly configured leadership has expressed interest in opening dialogue with the United States, according to his recent interview with Atlantic magazine.
Speaking from his Florida home, Trump confirmed his willingness to engage in these discussions. “They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them. They should have done it sooner. They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long,” the president stated during the interview.
The president did not provide details about which Iranian officials he would meet with or specify the timing of these potential conversations, whether they might occur Sunday or Monday.
The diplomatic opening comes as Iran undergoes a significant leadership transition. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that a temporary governing council has been established, consisting of himself, the head of the judiciary, and a representative from the influential Guardians Council. This arrangement was put in place following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Trump noted that previous diplomatic contacts have been disrupted by recent events, with some former negotiating partners no longer available.
“Most of those people are gone. Some of the people we were dealing with are gone, because that was a big — that was a big hit,” Trump explained to Atlantic writer Michael Scherer. “They should have done it sooner, Michael. They could have made a deal. They should’ve done it sooner. They played too cute.”
