President Donald Trump has characterized Iran’s new leaders as “very reasonable” and indicated a possible agreement between the two countries.
Trump disclosed that the U.S. and Iran have been in discussions, both “directly and indirectly”. He showed optimism about striking a deal with Iran, while also recognizing the chance of failure. Trump made these remarks while traveling to Washington on Air Force One on Sunday evening.
The president implied that the U.S. had brought about regime change in Tehran following strikes that eliminated Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other high-ranking officials. He reiterated that their successors seemed “reasonable”. He stated that the U.S. is now interacting with a “whole different group” of people in Iran.
“So I think we’ve had regime change,” Trump said.
He also noted that Iran had agreed to certain concessions that should have been made long ago.
Trump emphasized that Iran had offered “20 boats of oil” as a token of “respect,” which he took as a positive sign. This oil shipment is anticipated to start on Wednesday and continue over the subsequent days.
Trump Floats Iran Oil Seizure Option
In another interview with the Financial Times on Sunday, Trump said that the U.S. could potentially seize Iran’s oil infrastructure, including the key export hub on Kharg Island, and emphasized that taking “Iran’s oil” would be his preferred option. He added that the U.S. has multiple options under consideration.
At the same time, Iranian officials struck a defiant tone, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf accusing the U.S. of hypocrisy—pursuing talks publicly while preparing for military action behind the scenes.
Last week, Trump suggested a potential joint control of the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, along with the new Ayatollah. The president hinted that the Strait could reopen soon if talks with Iran are successful.
US Deploys More Troops, As Pakistan Offers Talks
The president’s latest remarks follow reports that the U.S. is sending thousands of troops to the region, including Marines and airborne units capable of rapid ground deployment.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has offered to host “meaningful” negotiations to help end the US–Israel war on Iran, as regional diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Türkiye met in Islamabad to push for de-escalation, reported Al Jazeera. Led by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the two-day talks, which began on Sunday, aim to focus on pathways to a swift and lasting resolution, including the possibility of future U.S.–Iran discussions being held in Pakistan.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by a Benzinga editor.
Recent Comments