Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has dismissed the possibility of a meeting between the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, and former US President Donald Trump, despite recent remarks by Trump suggesting such an encounter could take place. Speaking to Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen television in an interview aired yesterday night, Araghchi downplayed the prospect of high-level talks, emphasising the need for realism in assessing relations between the two countries.
"I saw a report which apparently said that he (Trump) had stated that he was ready for a meeting or that he wanted to hold a meeting,” Araghchi said.
“I think we should be realistic and think and live in the real world,” he added.
Trump had told the New York Post on Wednesday that he would be open to meeting Iran’s supreme leader. “Yeah, I’d like to meet him,” Trump said when asked about the possibility, adding that “we probably will meet at some point, depending on how it all works out”.
Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei assumed the position of supreme leader in March following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, during US-Israeli strikes on February 28.
Araghchi revealed that he was present in the supreme leader’s office during the attack that killed Ali Khamenei but survived because he was in a different section of the building.
The strikes triggered a wave of Iranian retaliation, including missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US allies across the Gulf region.
Commenting on the leadership transition, Araghchi said the new supreme leader maintains firm authority over state affairs. According to him, Mojtaba Khamenei has a “completely close and effective presence in the country’s affairs and has full control”.
Addressing questions about the leader’s limited public appearances since taking office, the foreign minister attributed the situation to security concerns stemming from the conflict.
He said Mojtaba Khamenei’s absence from public view was “due to security considerations” linked to the war, which has remained under a fragile ceasefire since April 8.
Meanwhile, efforts to secure a lasting resolution to the conflict have stalled, with both mediated and direct negotiations between Iran and the United States yet to produce a permanent agreement.
