Trump Ready to Meet Iran's Supreme Leader to End War
US President Donald Trump has stated he would be honoured to meet with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. The surprising move comes amid efforts to agree on a major deal to end the war between the United States and Iran, which has dragged global stability into its fourth month.
Trump affirmed his willingness while answering questions from reporters in the Oval Office of the White House, following an official announcement regarding coal commodities. Trump stated he is fully open to a face-to-face meeting with Tehran’s leader if a peace agreement can be reached.
‘If we make a deal, there is a possibility I will meet. I don’t mind that,’ Trump told the media.
For context, Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as Iran’s new supreme leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on the first day of intense fighting. Although joint US and Israeli strikes have killed his father and other family members, Trump surprisingly stated he still expects the new Iranian leader to be professional.
‘In some circles, he actually has a very good reputation,’ Trump added.
To date, mixed signals continue to emerge from the negotiating table aimed at ending the war, a conflict which has disrupted global markets and triggered a massive spike in crude oil and petrol prices. Furthermore, Iran has closed most of the Strait of Hormuz since the war began, even though the critical shipping lane transports about a fifth of the world’s oil supply.
According to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) on Thursday, the average petrol price in the United States has soared to around US$4.24 per gallon nationally. On the other hand, the bloody conflict has reportedly been under a very fragile ceasefire for the past few weeks.
In the negotiations, the United States is demanding that Iran agree to a deal to never produce or possess nuclear weapons, and to immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz for international shipping. Meanwhile, Iran is demanding an immediate end to hostilities on various battlefronts and urging the United States to cease its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Tensions had flared again after Iranian state media on Monday stated that the Iranian negotiating team would halt the entire negotiation process and completely close the Strait of Hormuz. However, the situation shifted drastically again on Wednesday, after Trump unilaterally claimed that Iran had actually softened its stance and agreed not to possess nuclear weapons.