Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has dismissed the idea of a future Trump Khamenei meeting, saying expectations of such a high-level encounter are not realistic under current conditions.

The remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would like to meet Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, if ongoing contacts between Washington and Tehran lead to progress.

Iran Pushes Back on Trump Khamenei Meeting

Speaking in an interview with Lebanese broadcaster Al Mayadeen, Araghchi downplayed the possibility of a direct meeting between Trump and Khamenei.

“I think we should be realistic and think and live in the real world,” Araghchi said when asked about Trump’s comments.

His response signals that Tehran remains cautious about public expectations of a major diplomatic breakthrough, even as both sides continue to discuss issues tied to sanctions, regional security and Iran’s nuclear program.

US-Iran Talks Remain Fragile

Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in direct engagement with Iranian leaders as part of a broader effort to reduce tensions and reach a wider agreement. But Araghchi’s comments show that Iran is not treating a leader-level meeting as imminent.

The exchange comes during a sensitive period for the Middle East, where Washington and Tehran remain deeply divided despite public statements supporting diplomacy.

Why This Matters

For U.S. readers, the dispute matters because any progress or breakdown in US-Iran talks could affect regional security, energy markets and Washington’s broader Middle East policy. A Trump Khamenei meeting would be a major diplomatic development, but Iran’s latest response suggests that such a moment remains far from certain.