Trump says he would be ‘honoured’ to meet Iran’s Supreme Leader amid nuclear talks
US President Donald Trump said he would be “honoured” to meet Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. (Photo: AP/File Photo)US President Donald Trump said he would be “honoured” to meet Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei if ongoing nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran produce a breakthrough, a dramatic shift in tone amid years of tensions between the two countries.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said a meeting with the Iranian leader was “possible” if a deal is reached, while insisting the US continues to closely monitor Tehran’s uranium stockpile.
Trump underlined that any such meeting would be conducted with respect. “I don’t want to meet, but if I did meet, I’d be honoured to meet him,” he said, adding, “If we make a deal, it’s possible that I would meet him. I’d be OK with that.”
Trump:
I don’t want to meet with the Ayatollah, but if I did meet him, I would be honored to meet him.
I would be respectful. pic.twitter.com/kxVOpetzxn
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 4, 2026
Trump also struck a conciliatory tone when referring to Khamenei, saying the Iranian leader was “probably a professional” with “a very good reputation in some circles”. Acknowledging criticism, he added, “Some people say bad, but a lot of people say bad about me. It’s totally false, of course.”
The comments come amid continued discussions over Iran’s nuclear programme, a central issue in US-Iran relations. Even as he expressed openness to diplomacy, Trump reiterated his hardline stance on Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
“We could get it right now. I don’t think they could stop us if we want it. But there’s no reason to,” Trump said, referring to Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile. He further claimed the material was “entombed” and under close surveillance, adding, “We have cameras on it.”
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The remarks highlight Trump’s dual approach, signalling willingness for high-level talks while maintaining pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme.