Trump wants talks with Iran, but can't reach them to approve it, Axios says
Photo: Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump wanted to hold talks with Iran, but Supreme Leader Ayotallah Ali Khamenei did not respond and went dark, Axios reports.
According to the media outlet, Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan tried to quietly arrange a meeting with Iran this week. It was supposed to take place in Istanbul between high-ranking officials from Washington and Tehran.
In particular, on Monday, during a meeting with G7 leaders in Canada, Erdoğan called Trump. Turkish leader proposed that he hold a meeting between official representatives of the two countries in Istanbul the next day to explore a diplomatic solution to the war between Israel and Iran.
Trump agreed and informed Erdogan that he was ready to send US Vice President JD Vance and White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Moreover, the Head of the White House was ready to personally travel to Türkiye to meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian if necessary to conclude an agreement.
A White House representative said that a few hours before Erdoğan's call, Trump had received "signals" from the Iranians through other backchannels that they wanted to meet. The official noted that although Trump's personal participation had been discussed, the more serious plan was to send Witkoff.
Sources said that Erdoğan and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan then relayed the proposal to Pezeshkian and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi.
According to two US officials, Pesechian and Aragchi tried to contact Iran's supreme leader to get his approval. But Khamenei, who was in hiding for fear of being killed by Israel, was unavailable.
A few hours later, the Iranian side informed the Turkish side that it could not obtain Khamenei's approval. Türkiye then informed the US that the meeting was canceled.
Shortly thereafter, Trump took to Truth Social and posted an unusual message with a message from Khamenei.
"Iran should have signed the 'deal' I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" Trump wrote.
A senior White House official said the breakdown of negotiations was not the only reason for the post and stressed that there was no "no direct correlation."
US officials also noted that since the talks broke down, Trump and senior White House officials have become less confident in the possibility of a diplomatic solution and more convinced that the US will have to join the war to eliminate Iran's nuclear program.
War between Israel and Iran
On the night of June 13, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, attacking Iranian military and nuclear facilities. In addition, the country eliminated dozens of top Israeli commanders, including senior officials.
Recently, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the Defense Forces had been briefed and knew that in order to achieve all its goals, the Ayatollah "cannot continue to exist."
The media also claimed that Ali Khamenei is hiding in a bunker amid the Israeli attack, fearing for his life.
Today, the NYT wrote that Khamenei named three high-ranking clerics who would replace him in the event of his elimination.
