Washington: US President Donald Trump announced that Washington is currently negotiating with Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, stating that the US will know within a week whether the two sides can collaborate effectively. "We're gonna find out," Trump told the New York Post. "I'll let you know that in about a week."
According to Anadolu Agency, Trump's remarks follow his earlier statement that the US was in communication with "a top person" in Iran, though he refrained from disclosing their identity to ensure their safety. The Trump administration has been considering Qalibaf as a potential partner and even as a future leader of Iran, as reported by Politico last week. Meanwhile, Iran has stated it has not engaged in direct negotiations with the US, limiting recent communications to messages via intermediaries.
Trump mentioned a significant change in Iran's leadership, suggesting that previous leaders have been replaced by individuals who are more agreeable to engage with. He described this change as a "total regime change," asserting that the current figures are "much more reasonable."
Regarding Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Trump noted that the leader has not been seen publicly and is believed to be gravely wounded. When questioned about Mojtaba's condition, Trump indicated that Washington believes he is likely alive but in "extraordinarily bad shape."
Trump also addressed recent Iranian military strikes on regional infrastructure, including attacks in Kuwait and Haifa, Israel, promising that the US response will be revealed soon. These developments come amid escalating regional tensions following a joint offensive by Israel and the US against Iran on February 28, which resulted in over 1,340 casualties, including the death of Ali Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting several countries, including Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf nations hosting US military assets. These attacks have caused casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions in global markets and aviation.