Trump Calls Iran's New Leaders 'Very Reasonable' as Pakistan Prepares Talks

U.S. dispatches more troops to Middle East as Iran warns it won't accept 'humiliation'

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:42pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting featuring a fragmented military vehicle or missile repeated in overlapping geometric shapes and vibrant colors, conveying a sense of motion and conflict.As tensions escalate, the U.S. and Iran appear open to potential negotiations, even as both sides continue military buildups in the region.Washington Today

President Donald Trump said the U.S. and Iran have been meeting 'directly and indirectly' and that Iran's new leaders have been 'very reasonable', as more U.S troops arrived in the region and Tehran warned it will not accept humiliation. Pakistan said it is preparing to host 'meaningful talks' in the coming days aimed at ending the month-long Iran war.

Why it matters

The war has spread across the Middle East, killing thousands, causing the biggest disruption ever to energy supplies, and hitting the global economy. Trump's comments about Iran's new leaders being 'reasonable' suggest a potential diplomatic opening, even as the U.S. continues to build up military forces in the region.

The details

Trump said he thought the U.S. had already accomplished regime change in Tehran after strikes killed the country's supreme leader and other top officials, but said twice that their replacements seemed 'reasonable.' Pakistan's foreign minister said talks between regional foreign ministers on Sunday covered ways to bring an early end to the war, and potential U.S.-Iran talks in Islamabad. However, Iran's parliament speaker accused the U.S. of sending messages about possible negotiations while at the same time planning a ground invasion, warning that Tehran was ready to respond if U.S. soldiers were deployed.

  • On February 28, an initial Israeli strike killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
  • On Sunday, Pakistan said it was preparing to host 'meaningful talks' in the coming days.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States.

Ishaq Dar

The Foreign Minister of Pakistan.

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf

The speaker of Iran's parliament.

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What they’re saying

“I think we'll make a deal with them, I'm pretty sure, but it's possible we won't.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

“Pakistan will be honoured to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in coming days, for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict.”

— Ishaq Dar, Foreign Minister of Pakistan

“As long as the Americans seek Iran's surrender, our response is that we will never accept humiliation.”

— Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Speaker of Iran's parliament

What’s next

Pakistan is preparing to host talks between the U.S. and Iran in the coming days in an effort to end the month-long conflict.

The takeaway

The ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran has had far-reaching global consequences, disrupting energy supplies and the world economy. While the U.S. continues to build up military forces in the region, the potential for diplomatic talks brokered by Pakistan offers a glimmer of hope for a negotiated settlement to the crisis.