Washington, March 31 – US President Donald Trump suggested in a media interview that the White House will determine whether Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is willing to work with the United States "within a week."
"We're going to find out," Trump told The New York Post in an exclusive interview. "I'll let you know in about a week."
Trump described a dramatic shake-up inside Iran, claiming that Iran's old leadership has been effectively eliminated and replaced by a new group that he said has so far been easier to work with, according to Xinhua, quoting The New York Post's interview.
"There has been a complete change in regime because the regimes of the past are gone, and we are dealing with a whole new set of people," Trump claimed. "And so far, they have been much more reasonable."
Meanwhile, Trump repeatedly urged Iran to reach an agreement "before it's too late."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a press briefing on Monday that Trump hopes to reach a deal with Iran by April 6, which is the new deadline Trump set last week after postponing airstrikes on Iran's energy facilities.
Leavitt also said that Iranian officials negotiating with Washington appear more reasonable, but refused to name them.
"These people are appearing more reasonable behind the scenes, privately in these conversations, than perhaps some of the previous leaders who are now no longer on Earth," said Leavitt.
Earlier on Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with Al Jazeera that "it's not quite clear how decisions are being made inside of Iran" as Washington seeks to reach an agreement to end the war with Iran.
Though Trump has repeatedly claimed that negotiations with Iran are progressing well, no substantive progress has emerged, according to local analysts, noting that continued strikes and military reinforcement in the Middle East are further dampening hopes for a swift de-escalation.
Sunday marked the one-month milestone in the US-Israeli war with Iran. Trump threatened on Monday morning to "completely obliterate" all of Iran's electricity-generating plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island if a deal is not reached shortly.