President Trump confirmed on Monday that the U.S. is now engaged in negotiations with Iran’s leading parliamentary figure, marking an important development after weeks of ambiguous backchannel discussions.
When questioned about Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Trump stated, “We’re gonna find out,” and promised updates in about a week.
This statement represents a significant acknowledgment that the U.S. is engaging directly with Tehran’s hierarchy. Previously, Iranian officials had dismissed reports of negotiations as mere “fake news.”
Trump indicated that this outreach signals a major transformation within Iran, asserting that the old regime has been replaced by individuals more amenable to collaboration with the U.S.
“There has been total regime change because the regimes of the past are gone and we’re dealing with a whole new set of people,” he remarked, adding that these new figures appear to be more reasonable.
When pressed on whether these leaders differ from past adversaries, Trump was clear.
“Pretty much,” he said. “The other people are all dead.”
However, these diplomatic efforts occur amid increasing military actions.
Iran has launched new attacks targeting regional infrastructure, including strikes on a water and electrical plant in Kuwait and an oil refinery in Haifa, Israel. This escalation directly jeopardizes critical energy resources as conflict intensifies.
Trump affirmed that a U.S. response is forthcoming.
“You’ll see shortly,” he informed The Post when discussing Washington’s potential reaction.
Meanwhile, the president is deploying additional U.S. military assets to the region, warning Iran to reach an agreement before facing severe repercussions.
The situation remains uncertain regarding Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not made a public appearance since the onset of U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28.
“Nobody’s heard from him,” Trump commented. “He’s very seriously injured.”
When asked about Khamenei’s condition, Trump responded, “We don’t know. We think probably yes, but in extraordinarily bad shape.”
These remarks surfaced shortly after Iran’s latest attack on Israeli energy resources, highlighting the simultaneous nature of negotiations and threats.
