Trump says ready to meet Iran's supreme leader Khamenei

WASHINGTON,— U.S. President Donald Trump expressed confidence this week that the United States and Iran could strike a new deal to address Tehran’s nuclear program. He also indicated his willingness to meet with Iran’s top leaders to discuss the matter.

In an interview published Friday by Time magazine, Trump said he believes the two countries will reach an agreement soon.

“I think we’re going to make a deal with Iran,” he said, referring to indirect talks that took place last week between U.S. and Iranian representatives. A U.S. official familiar with the discussions called the talks a success, noting that both sides made “very good progress.”

Trump, who pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, reiterated that the possibility of military action against Iran is still on the table if a new deal is not quickly reached. “If we can’t get a deal, I may go in very willingly,” he said, adding that, “If we don’t make a deal, I’ll be leading the pack.”

The original agreement, which lifted sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program, was abandoned by the Trump administration in 2018.

Since then, Iran has resumed enriching uranium beyond the limits set in the agreement, causing increasing concern among Western nations.

On the same day, Trump spoke to reporters at the White House, saying, “Iran, I think, is going very well. We’ll see what happens.” His remarks suggested optimism about the ongoing discussions, but he maintained that the outcome remains uncertain.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, March 8, 2025. Photo: Khamenei Press Office/via iKurd.net

When asked by Time magazine if he was open to meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei or President Masoud Pezeshkian, Trump responded affirmatively. “Sure,” he said, signaling a potential willingness to engage directly with Iran’s leadership.

The latest round of talks is set to continue on Saturday in Oman, a country that has played the role of intermediary between the two adversaries. A third round of high-level talks is also scheduled for Saturday in Muscat.

Israel, a key U.S. ally in the region and a vocal critic of Iran’s nuclear activities, views the situation as a major security threat.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the full dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, warning that partial measures would not ensure Israel’s safety.

In response to questions about whether Israel’s actions could lead the U.S. into military conflict with Iran, Trump downplayed concerns.

However, he confirmed that the U.S. would not hesitate to take action if negotiations fail. “If we don’t make a deal, I’ll be leading the pack,” Trump said.

While the ongoing discussions have largely been indirect, the U.S. and Iranian officials did have brief in-person exchanges after the first round of talks on April 12. These face-to-face talks are the first of their kind since the Obama administration, which brokered the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Iran has long maintained that its nuclear ambitions are peaceful and geared toward energy production. However, Western officials remain skeptical, citing the high levels of uranium enrichment Iran has pursued since the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement.

(With files from Reuters)