Would be honoured to meet him: Trump open to talks with Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei
Donald Trump said he would be honoured to meet Mojtaba Khamenei if Washington and Tehran strike a deal. The remark paired diplomatic openness with renewed hardline claims on Iran's enriched uranium stockpile.
US President Donald Trump said he would be “honoured” to meet Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei if ongoing diplomatic efforts lead to an agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he was open to a direct meeting with the Iranian leader, stressing that any such engagement would be conducted respectfully.
“I don’t want to meet, but if I did meet, I’d be honoured to meet him,” Trump said. “But if we make a deal, it’s possible that I would meet him. I’d be OK with that.”
Trump added that he would approach any meeting with respect, saying Khamenei was “probably a professional” with “a very good reputation in some circles”.
“Some people say bad, but a lot of people say bad about me. It’s totally false, of course,” Trump remarked.
The comments come as discussions over Iran’s nuclear programme remain a key issue in US-Iran relations.
Trump also reiterated his claim that the United States could take control of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile if it chose to do so, though he said there was no need for such action.
“We could get it right now. I don’t think they could stop us if we want it. But there’s no reason to,” Trump said.
He further claimed that Iran’s enriched uranium is “entombed” and that US authorities are closely monitoring the material.
“We have cameras on it,” Trump added.
The remarks underscore Trump’s dual approach of signalling openness to diplomacy while maintaining a hardline stance on Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
US President Donald Trump said he would be “honoured” to meet Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei if ongoing diplomatic efforts lead to an agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he was open to a direct meeting with the Iranian leader, stressing that any such engagement would be conducted respectfully.
“I don’t want to meet, but if I did meet, I’d be honoured to meet him,” Trump said. “But if we make a deal, it’s possible that I would meet him. I’d be OK with that.”
Trump added that he would approach any meeting with respect, saying Khamenei was “probably a professional” with “a very good reputation in some circles”.
“Some people say bad, but a lot of people say bad about me. It’s totally false, of course,” Trump remarked.
The comments come as discussions over Iran’s nuclear programme remain a key issue in US-Iran relations.
Trump also reiterated his claim that the United States could take control of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile if it chose to do so, though he said there was no need for such action.
“We could get it right now. I don’t think they could stop us if we want it. But there’s no reason to,” Trump said.
He further claimed that Iran’s enriched uranium is “entombed” and that US authorities are closely monitoring the material.
“We have cameras on it,” Trump added.
The remarks underscore Trump’s dual approach of signalling openness to diplomacy while maintaining a hardline stance on Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
