Trump agrees to talks with interim Tehran leaders, blasts regime for waiting 'too long'
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday, March 1, that he has agreed to speak with Iran’s newly appointed interim leadership following the massive joint US-Israeli military offensive.
The announcement came just one day after 'Operation Epic Fury' resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them," Trump told The Atlantic in a Sunday morning interview.
While the president declined to provide specific timing for the communication, he noted that the Iranian regime "waited too long" to engage in practical negotiations before the strikes were launched.
New interim leadership team named
Earlier on Sunday, Iran designated an interim leadership team to manage the nation in the wake of the catastrophic strikes.
The team consists of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Guardian Council Jurist member Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, and Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, the head of the Iranian judiciary.
Despite this temporary arrangement, Iranian law requires the 88-member Assembly of Experts to select a permanent new supreme leader "as soon as possible."
The political transition occurs as Tehran reels from the loss of its highest authority and several other high-ranking officials.
Key regime figures eliminated in strikes
President Trump remarked that many of the individuals the US had previously dealt with were now "gone" following what he described as a "big hit."
Beyond Khamenei, several other high-profile Iranian officials were killed in the Saturday attacks.
Notable casualties included Ali Shamkhani, the leader of the national defense council, and Mohammad Pakpour, the head of the Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Trump asserted that these leaders "should’ve done it sooner" regarding a deal, suggesting that they "played too cute" during the negotiation process.
Heavy casualties and regional escalation
The joint operation has resulted in significant loss of life, with Iran’s Red Crescent reporting at least 200 Iranians killed since Saturday.
The military action represents a stark escalation in the long-standing tensions over Iran's nuclear program and the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" strategy.
The conflict has also claimed American lives, with US Central Command confirming that three service members were killed during the Saturday operation.
Despite the agreed-upon talks, a significant military presence remains amassed in the region as the situation continues to develop.
