Iran suggests it's open to U.S. talks, White House official says, Trump is ‘eventually’ willing

A senior White House official said Sunday (March 1, 2026) that Iran's “new potential leadership” has suggested it is open to talks with the United States after American and Israeli forces launched a major attack against Tehran, killing the country's supreme leader and other high-ranking officials.

The White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations, said President Donald Trump says he is “eventually” willing to talk, but for now the military operation “continues unabated.” The official did not say who the potential new Iranian leaders are or how they made their alleged willingness to talk known.

Iran-Israel conflict updates on March 1, 2026

Mr. Trump told The Atlantic, in an interview Sunday (March 1, 2026), that he planned to speak with Iran's new leadership.

“They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them,” he said, declining comment on the timing.