Trump says he agrees to dialogue with Iran's new leadership, "Venezuela-style outcome" is one of the options

U.S. President Trump expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with Iran’s new leadership and proposed various regime change scenarios, including the “Venezuela model,” while vowing that military actions by the U.S. and Israel will continue until objectives are achieved.

According to the latest report from Xinhua News Agency, President Trump stated on March 1 that the new Iranian leadership hopes to talk with him, and he agrees to dialogue with Iran.

“They want to talk, and I agree to talk, so I will talk with them.”

When asked when the talks might happen, Trump replied, “I can’t tell you.” He mentioned that some Iranians involved in recent negotiations have died, “They could have reached an agreement; they should have done it earlier. They played smart, but it backfired.”

This statement from Trump comes after the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, and after Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei was targeted, possibly indicating a new phase of political maneuvering amid the intense turmoil in the Middle East. Xinhua also reported that Iranian President Raisi announced on March 1 that an interim leadership council has begun work until a new Supreme Leader is elected.

Trump Mentions the “Venezuela Model”

In discussing Iran’s new leadership, Trump proposed a highly discussed option—the “Venezuela model.” In a recent media interview, Trump said that in Venezuela, the U.S. controlled the top leadership while most of the government structure remained intact and was willing to cooperate with the U.S.

According to CCTV News, on January 3, U.S. President Trump announced that U.S. forces launched a raid in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, claiming they would face criminal charges in New York; he also stated that the U.S. would “temporarily operate” in Venezuela.

Trump said:

“What we did in Venezuela, I think it was perfect, a perfect scenario,”

The report suggests that Trump hinted this model could be replicated in Iran, seeking a leadership more willing to cooperate with the U.S.

However, this idea faces significant challenges. Iran has a large military force, complex social structures, and ongoing nuclear programs. Trump’s advisors have warned that the vast cultural and historical differences make it nearly impossible to replicate the Venezuela strategy in Iran.

Meanwhile, Trump’s statements are also contradictory. He offered several different scenarios, without clarifying whether he intends to “maintain the existing power structure” or “overthrow the old regime.”

As Trump repeatedly references what he calls the “Venezuela experience,” he also claims he hopes Iran’s elite armed forces—including the “hardline officers” of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—will hand over weapons to the Iranian people. He said: “If you think about it, they might actually surrender to the people.”

Regarding “who should lead Iran,” Trump said he has “three very good options,” but refused to name them: “I won’t reveal them now. Let’s get the job done first.”**

Media reports also mentioned that earlier that day, Iran stated it would be run by a temporary committee until a new Supreme Leader is appointed; the report cited Iranian top security official Ali Larijani, who previously negotiated the nuclear deal and was sanctioned by the Trump administration in January. Trump did not respond when asked whether he believes Larijani could lead Iran.

Military Actions to Continue, Concerns Over Ammunition Reserves

Regarding the duration of the conflict, Trump’s recent remarks differ from previous statements. He said that the U.S. and Israel will continue military operations until all goals are met.

According to CCTV News, on March 1, President Trump delivered a video speech stating that the U.S. and Israel will continue military actions against Iran until all objectives are achieved. Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian said that Iran will decide when and how to end this U.S.-and-Israel-imposed war.

Earlier, Trump indicated that the military campaign against Iran might last about four weeks.

When discussing maintaining combat strength, Trump said:

“It won’t be very difficult… We have plenty of ammunition. You know, we store ammunition in various countries around the world.”

Despite Trump’s confidence in ammunition reserves, the Pentagon has previously expressed concerns that the conflict could further deplete strategic stockpiles. With casualties already reported among U.S. forces, Trump acknowledged, “We expect there will be casualties,” and predicted the number could be higher.

Iran’s “Mosaic Defense”

In response to ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes, Iran has not shown weakness.

According to CCTV News, Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian posted on social media on March 1 that Iran has been studying U.S. military failures over the past 20 years, and that U.S. and Israeli bombings of Tehran would not affect Iran’s war capabilities.

Abdollahian stated that Iran’s decentralized, dispersed “Mosaic Defense” system allows Iran to decide when and how to end the war.

This indicates Iran is prepared for a prolonged conflict.

Currently, the Iranian interim leadership council has begun work until a new Supreme Leader is elected. Trump stated that if the new leadership shows a pragmatic attitude toward cooperation, he would consider lifting sanctions. However, with the conflict ongoing and positions still opposed, any substantive dialogue or compromise faces significant obstacles.

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