US President Donald Trump told Fox News that it's possible he would be willing to talk with Iran but that it depends on the terms, the cable news network said on Tuesday.
Trump also reiterated his unhappiness with Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who was named by Iran's Assembly of Experts to replace his father, Ali Khamenei.
"I don’t believe he can live in peace," Trump said.
Asked in an interview on Monday evening about the possibility of negotiations with Tehran, Trump told Fox he heard Tehran wanted to talk badly, according to the news network.
Earlier on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told PBS NewsHour that he did not think that "the question of talking with Americans or negotiation with the Americans once again would be on the table."
Trump says operation 'way beyond expectations,' reportedly weighing off-ramps
Trump also echoed his comments at a press conference earlier on Monday, telling Fox the results of the US military operation in Iran were "way beyond expectation." Trump added that he was surprised that Iran was striking Gulf countries with missiles and drones, according to the network.
According to a Wall Street Journal report from earlier this week, US President Donald Trump is weighing a quicker end to the US military campaign in Iran, while some of his advisers are privately urging him to prepare an exit strategy amid rising oil prices and fears of domestic political backlash.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected that account, saying Trump’s advisers remained focused on ensuring Operation Epic Fury was a success and that only the president would decide when the campaign ends.
Trump did not offer a firm timeline for ending the operation and appeared to downplay the prospect of broader US involvement aimed at forcing regime change in Tehran.
Tzvi Jasper contributed to this report.