President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would be willing to meet Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, if negotiators reach an agreement to end the four-month U.S.-Iran war. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office after an announcement on coal, Trump said he would be “honored” to hold such a meeting under those circumstances.
“If we make a deal, it’s possible that I would meet,” Trump said. “I’d be okay with that.”
Khamenei became Iran’s supreme leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on the first day of the conflict, according to the report. Trump said he believed the younger Khamenei would act as a “professional,” despite U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed his father and other family members. The president added that Khamenei has “a very good reputation” in some circles.
The comments come amid uncertain negotiations aimed at ending the war, which has affected global energy markets. Iran has largely kept the Strait of Hormuz closed since the start of the conflict. The waterway is a major route for oil shipments, carrying about one-fifth of global oil supply. The closure has contributed to higher oil and gasoline prices. AAA reported the national average for gasoline at about $4.24 per gallon on Thursday.
The conflict has been under a fragile ceasefire for several weeks. The United States is seeking Iranian commitments never to acquire a nuclear weapon and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz immediately. Iran is demanding an end to hostilities on multiple fronts and the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Recent signals from both sides have been inconsistent. Iranian state media reported Monday that Tehran’s negotiators would stop talks and close the strait. On Wednesday, Trump said Iran had agreed not to develop a nuclear weapon. Talks remain unresolved as of Thursday.