President Donald Trump said Sunday that Iran’s newly installed leadership wants to resume negotiations, just one day after a massive U.S.-Israeli military operation killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them,” Trump told The Atlantic during a phone call from Mar-a-Lago. “They should have done it sooner. They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long.”
Trump blamed Tehran for dragging out weeks of diplomatic efforts before the strikes. He acknowledged that several Iranian officials involved in those discussions were killed during the operation.
“Most of those people are gone,” Trump said. “They played too cute.”
He declined to specify when negotiations would begin.
According to Reuters, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said a three-member council has temporarily assumed the supreme leader’s responsibilities. The council reportedly includes Pezeshkian, the judiciary chief, and a representative from the Guardians Council.
A senior White House official told The Associated Press that Iran’s “new potential leadership” has signaled a willingness to engage Washington. The official added that the military campaign “continues unabated,” underscoring that diplomacy will proceed from a position of strength.
Trump expressed confidence that the Iranian people will ultimately topple the Islamic regime. He pointed to reports of public celebrations inside Iran and among expatriate communities in Los Angeles and New York, according to The Atlantic.
In a video posted Saturday, Trump addressed the Iranian people directly.
“Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach,” the president said.
PRESIDENT TRUMP’s message to the great people of Iran:
When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. America is backing you with overwhelming strength. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and unleash the prosperous and glorious future… pic.twitter.com/BgxDMgzhmv
— Department of State (@StateDept) February 28, 2026
Trump also told CNBC that the military operation was “ahead of schedule” and “moving along very well.”
More over at The Atlantic:
Exclusive: “I have agreed to talk”: Trump tells @michaelscherer that he plans to speak with Iran’s new leadership. Read more from his interview: https://t.co/e4Boih6rqA
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) March 1, 2026