President Donald Trump informed reporters on Wednesday that the Iranian government is seeking a direct meeting with his administration and is even willing to send a delegation to the White House. This announcement came amid heightened tensions in the region, as Israel continues its strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. The Israeli government, lacking the bunker-busting capabilities to destroy Iran’s Fordow Nuclear Enrichment Center located deep underground, has been urging the U.S. to carry out the strike. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, emphasized the importance of eliminating the Fordow site during a Fox News interview, prompting reporters to question Trump on whether this was a precondition for any potential agreement. Trump dismissed the idea as merely a topic of discussion, reiterating the unmatched strength of the U.S. military but stopping short of committing to any action.

The president made these comments a day after publicly rejecting claims that he was pursuing peace talks with Iran, calling reports from Axios “HIGHLY FABRICATED, FAKE NEWS” in a post on Truth Social. He insisted he had not initiated any outreach but made it clear Iran knew how to make contact. Following this denial, Trump revealed that Iran had in fact expressed interest in talks, even agreeing to visit the White House. Reflecting on past negotiations, Trump said Iran had rejected a strong offer that could have saved lives and now appeared to regret that decision. Still, he left the door open, saying a meeting might be “a bit too late,” but they were clearly eager to engage.