Trump Threatens Continued Bombing of Iran if Talks Fail, Hints at Regime Change
US President Donald Trump has claimed to be in discussions with Iranian leaders, but not the supreme leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei. Trump stated that if the talks with those Iranian leaders fail, the US will continue to bombard Iran.
Quoted by AFP on Monday (23/3/2026), Trump said on Monday that “regime change” is effectively underway in Iran. He warned that if the talks with the figures contacted by the United States do not succeed, the bombing will continue.
Trump explained that the talks are not with Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, but with people he described as “very reasonable,” while so many high-ranking officials have died in the conflict that “regime change is happening automatically.”
“If the talks fail, we will continue to bomb relentlessly,” Trump said.
Trump also stated on Monday that there are “key points of agreement” in the US-Iran talks, which he believes should result in the cessation of Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and enriched uranium stockpiles.
Trump said the talks—which Iran denies are taking place—are being conducted with “important people” but not the country’s supreme leader.
“We have eliminated the phase one leadership, phase two, and most of phase three. But we are dealing with people I believe are the most respected and the leader,” Trump told reporters.
“We do not want enrichment, but we also want enriched uranium,” he continued.
Previously reported, Donald Trump said his country and Iran have held productive conversations over the weekend. Trump will delay military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy sites for five days.
Quoted by CNN on Monday (23/3/2026), writing in all capital letters on Truth Social, Trump said he made the decision to postpone the threatened attacks based on the “tone and content” of those discussions.
“I am pleased to report that the United States, and the country of Iran, have held, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East,” Trump said.