President Donald Trump said Thursday he would be “honored” to sit down with Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei — a man whose father was assassinated by a U.S.-Israeli airstrike, whose wife was killed in the same attack, and whose son also perished in the opening salvo of Operation Epic Fury.
The remarks came during a wide-ranging press availability at the White House on June 4, 2026, in which Trump addressed reporters following an announcement on domestic coal production. When a journalist asked directly whether the president wanted to meet the new Ayatollah, Trump’s answer was notably nuanced.
“I don’t want to meet,” Trump said, before quickly pivoting. “If I did meet with the new Ayatollah, I would be honored to meet him.”
A New Leader Born From Tragedy
The new supreme leader’s path to power runs directly through the opening hours of Operation Epic Fury. The United States Armed Forces launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28, 2026, with the objective of destroying Iran’s offensive military capabilities and ensuring the country would never obtain a nuclear weapon. The initial results of the operation led to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with scores of other senior Iranian government and military officials.
According to leaked audio obtained by The Telegraph, Mojtaba Khamenei survived the February 28 strike because he had stepped outside shortly before missiles hit his residence. He suffered a leg injury, while his wife, Zahra Haddad-Adel, and their son were killed instantly.
Iran’s Assembly of Experts named Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, the second son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic on March 8, 2026.
Wounded and Out of Sight
When a reporter asked Trump whether Mojtaba Khamenei harbored hard feelings given that U.S. strikes had killed his father, wife, and child, the president acknowledged the obvious diplomatic complexity with characteristic bluntness.
“I would say I’m not his favorite person,” Trump said. “But with that being said, he’s probably a pro — I don’t know him — he’s probably a professional in some circles. He has a very good reputation actually. You know, sometimes people say bad things, but a lot of people say bad about me. It’s totally false, of course.”
The new supreme leader’s physical condition has remained a subject of significant speculation and concern since the moment he took office. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated at a Pentagon press conference that Mojtaba Khamenei was “wounded and likely disfigured.” U.S. intelligence assessments indicate that Khamenei has not been seen in public since he sustained serious injuries during the attack that killed his father and several of the country’s top military leaders.
Reports indicate Khamenei remains isolated as he continues to receive medical treatment for his injuries, including severe burns on one side of his body affecting his face, arm, torso, and leg. He has not been using any electronics to communicate, instead only interacting with those who can visit him in person or by sending messages via courier.
A Hard-Line Figure Under Unprecedented Circumstances
Mojtaba Khamenei is widely viewed as a hard-line figure with close ties to the powerful Revolutionary Guard. Israel had already described him as a potential target before his appointment, and Trump had previously called him “unacceptable.”
In his first message delivered on state television after assuming power, Mojtaba Khamenei alluded to the family losses, saying that in addition to his father, he had also lost in the attack “my dear and loyal wife,” his sister, her child, and his brother-in-law.
Despite those losses, Trump on Thursday chose to emphasize the possibility of dialogue rather than continued antagonism. His offer to meet — framed diplomatically as something he would consider an honor — stands in sharp contrast to the military reality that put Khamenei in power in the first place.
An Unusual Diplomatic Overture
The president’s willingness to frame a potential meeting with Khamenei as an honor is, at minimum, an unconventional diplomatic posture. The United States military’s strikes directly killed Khamenei’s father, who led Iran for 36 years, along with his wife and child. The new supreme leader himself has not appeared publicly and is believed to be recovering from significant injuries sustained in the same attack.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the U.S. grows stronger following the success of Operation Epic Fury while Iran has grown weaker, adding that “it’s clearer than ever that President Trump holds all the cards as his national security team works to end Iran’s nuclear dreams for good.”
Whether Trump’s expression of willingness to meet Khamenei represents a genuine diplomatic channel or a rhetorical gesture remains unclear. What is clear is that the man Trump says he would be honored to meet has not been seen in public since the day U.S. bombs killed his family — and that the United States still officially holds all leverage in the ongoing negotiations.