Trump says Iranian leaders want to talk as Middle East tensions spiral after attacks

A dramatic escalation in Middle East tensions unfolded over the weekend as airstrikes by Israel and United States forces targeted multiple locations in Iran, with officials claiming that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed amid the strikes. The coordinated assault, one of the most significant direct confrontations in years, has raised fears of a wider regional war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “many signs” that Khamenei was no longer alive following the attacks on his compound and other strategic sites, and claimed senior Iranian officials had been eliminated as part of the operation. U.S. President Donald Trump also indicated he believes reports of Khamenei’s death are correct, though official confirmation remains mixed and some Iranian officials earlier denied the reports.

Iranian authorities have responded with retaliatory missile and drone strikes on locations across the region, including Tel Aviv and Dubai and Abu Dhabi, prompting casualties and infrastructure damage. Regional leaders have called for de-escalation, including United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which urged Iran to “go back to its senses” amid broader instability.

In an interview published Monday, Trump said that “Iranian leaders want to talk” and he has agreed to engage, but lamented they “waited too long” to pursue diplomacy. It remains unclear whether formal negotiations will begin amid the rapidly evolving conflict. International responses have been mixed, with some world powers calling for restraint while others condemn the strikes or warn of wider escalation.