WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that he has agreed to enter negotiations with Iran’s newly formed leadership council. The overture from Tehran follows a devastating wave of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes—dubbed “Operation Epic Fury”—which officials claim killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of top-ranking military commanders.

A Window for Diplomacy Amidst Chaos ⏳

In a phone interview with The Atlantic, President Trump revealed that the surviving elements of the Iranian government initiated contact. While he expressed a willingness to talk, his tone remained one of “maximum pressure” and missed opportunities.

“They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them,” Trump said from his Florida residence. He was quick to criticize the previous administration’s delays: “They should have done it sooner. They could have made a deal. They waited too long. They played too cute.”

The “Decapitation” of the Old Guard 🌍⚖️

The President’s remarks underscored the sheer scale of the military operation. He claimed that the majority of the Iranian officials the U.S. had been dealing with in recent months were eliminated in what he described as a “very hard hit.”

• Tactical Success: Trump told Fox News that 48 high-ranking leaders were killed “in one shot,” describing the mission as being “ahead of schedule.”

• Leadership Vacuum: With Khamenei’s death confirmed by Iranian state media, a temporary three-member leadership council—including President Masoud Pezeshkian—has assumed control.

Mixed Signals from Tehran

While Trump speaks of a desire for talks, the situation on the ground remains volatile.

• Retaliatory Strikes: Iran has continued to launch missile and drone attacks across the region, including strikes on airports in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Kuwait.

• Hardline Defiance: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi struck a defiant note in separate interviews, claiming Iran’s military capabilities remain intact and expressing bitterness that the U.S. attacked “in the middle of negotiations.”

What Comes Next?

The President has not yet provided a specific timeline for when these talks might begin, nor has he ruled out the continuation of the “heavy and pinpoint bombing” of Iranian infrastructure.

World leaders, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, have expressed deep regret that diplomacy was “squandered” earlier but are watching the potential for new talks with a mix of hope and extreme caution. For the Trump administration, the goal remains clear: a complete “regime change” or a nuclear deal that satisfies his stringent “satisfaction” criteria.