Trump says he agrees to dialogue with Iran's new leadership

CCTV Reporter On March 1st, local time, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran’s new leadership hopes to resume negotiations, and he has agreed to engage in dialogue.

During a phone interview at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Trump said, “They want to talk, and I agree to talk, so I will talk with them.” He indicated that Iran “should have reached an agreement earlier,” adding, “That was very practical and easy to accomplish, but they waited too long.”

When asked about the timing of the talks, Trump said it was “not convenient to disclose.” He also mentioned that some Iranian officials involved in negotiations in recent weeks “are no longer there.”

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Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei Assassinated: Witnessing Middle East Turmoil, a Mark of the Era

On March 1st, Iranian media reported the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei. Khamenei’s life has been closely intertwined with revolution and struggle, witnessing and participating in the Islamic Revolution, the Iran-Iraq War, and nuclear negotiations, surviving multiple crises including imprisonment, assassination attempts, and sanctions. Throughout the turbulent Middle East, he has always been a political strongman. According to Iranian media, the government announced a 40-day national mourning.

Photo: Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei.

Born into a Religious Family

Encounter with a Life Mentor

In April 1939, on the eve of World War II, Khamenei was born into a religious family in Mashhad, Iran’s holy city in the east, as the second of eight siblings.

At age four, his father sent him and his brother to religious school to learn reading, writing, and the Quran.

As he grew older, he could have continued his studies at the religious school in Najaf, Iraq, a Shia holy city, but he chose to return to Iran to stay close to his parents.

Back in Iran, he studied advanced theology in Qom. Later, due to his father’s blindness, he interrupted his studies and returned home.

However, his experience in Qom was profoundly influential, as he met his lifelong mentor there—the founder of the Islamic Revolution, Khomeini.

Facing Life-and-Death Crises

“No One Thought I Would Survive”

In the 1960s, young Khamenei followed Khomeini and joined the fight against the secular monarchy. During Khomeini’s exile in Iraq, he persisted in spreading Khomeini’s ideas within Iran. He was arrested and imprisoned six times.

In 1979, the Islamic Revolution erupted in Iran, overthrowing the Pahlavi dynasty, with Khomeini becoming the Supreme Leader. Khamenei served as acting Minister of Defense and commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

In June 1981, an opposition group attempted to assassinate Khamenei. During a press conference, a bomb hidden inside a tape recorder exploded, severely injuring his chest, shoulder, and right hand, which was permanently disabled.

Khamenei later recalled, “After the attack, my situation was very dire because no one believed I would survive.”

Ultimately, he not only survived this life-threatening crisis but also experienced a major turning point in his political career within a few months.

In August 1981, Iran’s second president, Mohammad Ali Rajai, was assassinated. In October of the same year, Khamenei was appointed President of Iran.

Photo: Khamenei undergoing surgery at a hospital in Tehran.

Presidential Term During Iran-Iraq War

“Boldly” Proposing a Ceasefire

Khamenei’s presidency was tested by war.

In 1980, Iran and Iraq went to war. The conflict lasted eight years and caused severe damage to Iran’s economy.

Typically cautious, Khamenei took a bold step: he and another politician, Rafsanjani, jointly wrote to Khomeini, urging him to end the Iran-Iraq War quickly for the sake of the regime’s interests.

This move drew fierce criticism from parliament and conservative factions within the government, threatening his political standing. Ultimately, Khomeini decided to accept the United Nations Security Council resolution and agreed to a ceasefire.

In June 1989, Khomeini passed away. Subsequently, Khamenei was elected by the Assembly of Experts as Iran’s Supreme Leader.

Photo: On September 2015, Iran held a military parade in Tehran to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Iran-Iraq War.

Advocating for Iran to Break Out of Isolation

Never Stopping the “Fight” with the U.S.

As Khomeini’s successor, Khamenei naturally leaned conservative. But he also believed that the Iranian government should adapt to the times and implement necessary reforms. He advocated for Iran to break its isolation and establish normal diplomatic relations with Western countries.

However, regarding the “old rival” the U.S., Khamenei has maintained a tough stance. Whether during the revolution or his political career, he has almost never ceased fighting against the “enemy.” He once said in a speech, “The hatred of the Iranian people towards the U.S. is deeply rooted.”

Photo: On July 14, 2015, in Tehran, Iran, crowds cheered in the streets celebrating the comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear issue.

In recent years, tensions between Iran and the U.S. have escalated multiple times.

Since April 2025, around five rounds of indirect negotiations on the Iran-U.S. nuclear deal have taken place, but disagreements remain on key issues like uranium enrichment. The sixth round was canceled after Israel’s attack on Iran. During the 12-day conflict, the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear facilities as retaliation, and Iran responded with missile strikes on the U.S. military base Udeid in Qatar.

In November of that year, Khamenei stated that the differences between Iran and the U.S. are fundamental, not strategic, highlighting the core conflict of interests. He demanded that the U.S. stop supporting Israel, withdraw its military bases from the Middle East, and cease interfering in Iran’s internal affairs; only if these conditions are met would Iran consider cooperation.

In early 2026, protests erupted across Iran over rising prices and currency devaluation, leading to unrest and casualties among security personnel and civilians. The U.S. government repeatedly threatened to intervene. Iran accused the U.S. and Israel of colluding to destabilize the country.

In February, shortly after the third round of nuclear talks, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military operation targeting Iran’s top leadership, during which Khamenei was killed in the airstrike.

In response to U.S. threats and interference, Khamenei once said Iran cannot tolerate any foreign proxies operating on its soil and urged the U.S. to focus on its own problems. He emphasized that Trump’s actions had caused damage and casualties to Iran and accused the U.S. of harming the Iranian nation, calling it a “crime.”

Recently, Khamenei warned that if the U.S. provokes war, it could trigger a “regional full-scale war.” He vowed that Iran’s people would resolutely retaliate against any invasion or provocation.

Potential Major Changes in Iran’s Political Arena

Who Might Be the Successor?

In October 2023, a new round of Israel-Palestine conflict erupted, escalating Middle East tensions.

On July 31, 2024, Hamas leader Haniya was assassinated in a heavily guarded area of Tehran, triggering a cycle of tit-for-tat retaliation between Iran and Israel.

Amid rising tensions, concerns grew that Israel might assassinate Khamenei. Foreign media in November 2024 reported that the Iranian Assembly of Experts had secretly identified three candidates with a priority order, but the names were not disclosed.

Several foreign media outlets have speculated about potential successors.

First: Mujeh Taba Khamenei, Khamenei’s eldest son

The New York Times and other outlets consider Mujeh Taba the leading candidate.

Reports suggest he was groomed as a leader with his father’s approval and has been involved in major policy decisions behind the scenes for years.

Second: Ali Reza Arafi, Deputy Chairman of the Assembly of Experts

Analysts believe he is not only a close confidant of Khamenei but also a member of the Guardian Council and holds significant religious authority. Having worked closely with Khamenei for many years, he is seen as a potential successor.

Third: Hashim Husseini Bushiri, First Vice Chairman of the Assembly of Experts

Reports indicate he has a close relationship with Khamenei and holds key leadership roles, increasing his chances of election.

However, these candidates are only speculations by foreign media, and it remains unclear who will ultimately succeed.

In June 2025, the New York Times cited informed Iranian officials saying that Khamenei had secretly designated three senior clerics as potential successors after surviving a possible assassination attempt. “Khamenei instructed that, in the event of his assassination, the Assembly of Experts responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader should quickly choose a successor from the list he provided.”

Analysts believe that if the unexpected death of former President Raisi shifts the balance of power among Iran’s factions, then Khamenei’s death could lead to significant changes in Iran’s political landscape.

(Source: CCTV News)