President Donald Trump says he has been in contact with an Iranian leader and expects to know “in about a week” whether that figure can be trusted, pointing to a shake-up inside Tehran after Operation Epic Fury and suggesting the new players may be more cooperative than the old guard.
Trump confirmed he is negotiating with an Iranian official who numerous observers believe is Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The president framed this as part of a wholesale change in Tehran’s leadership after the strike that removed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures. He insists the current group is different and, so far, more reasonable to deal with than the previous regime.
Reports have floated the idea that Mojtaba Khamenei, the ayatollah’s son, has been sidelined by injury and rumor, earning the mocking nickname “Cardboard Ayatollah.” Trump dismissed that figure as effectively out of the picture and focused on the new interlocutors with whom he says he is communicating. That creates a stark choice for Tehran: cooperation or escalation with consequences.
He exclusively told The Post that the US will find out whether the speaker is willing to work with Americans –soon.
“We’re gonna find out,” Trump told The Post when asked about Iran’s Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. “I’ll let you know that in about a week.”
The president doubled down on the claim that the prior ruling class in Iran has been largely removed and replaced. “There has been total regime change because the regimes of the past are gone and we’re dealing with a whole new set of people,” he said, adding that “thus far, they’ve been much more reasonable.” That assessment reflects a hardline stance: the United States expects tangible cooperation, not vague promises.
The president described a dramatic shake-up inside Iran, claiming the old guard has effectively been wiped out and replaced by a new group he said has so far been easier to work with.
“There has been total regime change because the regimes of the past are gone and we’re dealing with a whole new set of people,” Trump said. “And thus far, they’ve been much more reasonable.”
When pressed about who remains a real player, Trump was blunt: the rivals who stood in the way of American interests are “all dead,” he said. That kind of language signals zero tolerance for spoilers and no patience for half measures. From a Republican viewpoint, this is decisive leadership: communicate directly, demand results, and back words with credible force.
Pressed on whether these are new figures compared to past US adversaries in Tehran, Trump didn’t mince words.
“Pretty much,” he said. “The other people are all dead.”
Questions about Mojtaba Khamenei’s status continue to swirl, but Trump emphasized the point that the son is not a visible threat. “Nobody’s heard from him,” he said, before adding, “He’s very seriously injured.” When asked if Mojtaba Khamenei is still alive, Trump said, “We don’t know. We think probably yes, but in extraordinarily bad shape.” Those blunt observations underscore the chaos inside Iran’s leadership.
“Nobody’s heard from him,” Trump said of the leader, whom The Post previously reported that US intel officials believe to be gay. “He’s very seriously injured.”
Asked if Mojtaba Khamenei is still alive, Trump added, “We don’t know. We think probably yes, but in extraordinarily bad shape.”
Trump has also warned that the United States could strike at critical Iranian infrastructure if Tehran refuses to meet American demands, particularly about opening the Strait of Hormuz. That threat is meant to be brutally clear: disrupt vital global chokepoints or face severe consequences. Conservative strategy favors using leverage decisively so America’s seas, trade routes, and allies are not held hostage.
There is skepticism about whether someone elevated to parliament speaker could be sincerely cooperative, but Trump suggested realpolitik could push a pragmatic outcome. He argued that survival instincts might motivate Tehran’s new leaders to negotiate rather than resist. That calculus is risky, but the administration is betting it can convert pressure into compliance.
In Washington, the counting of responses and signals from Tehran will continue behind closed doors while the clock ticks. “I’ll let you know that in about a week,” Trump reiterated, putting a public timeline on private diplomacy. For Republicans who back firm action, that timeline is welcome; it shows a willingness to pair negotiation with consequences.
The stakes are high: if the Iranian interlocutor proves untrustworthy, the administration has made clear what comes next. If the interlocutor cooperates, Tehran may avert further strikes on energy and maritime infrastructure. Either way, the next several days promise to be defining for U.S. strategy in the region.
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