President Donald Trump said Thursday he would be "honored" to meet with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei if the United States and Iran reach a peace agreement.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump indicated such a meeting would be contingent on securing a deal between the two nations. "If we make a deal, it's possible that I would meet him," the president said.

The comments represent a notable shift in tone from the Trump administration's previous rhetoric toward Iran's leadership. The United States and Iran have maintained hostile relations for decades, with tensions escalating since Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

Trump's willingness to engage directly with Iran's top religious and political authority suggests a potential diplomatic opening, though no formal negotiations or peace framework currently exists between the countries. The Supreme Leader holds ultimate authority in Iran's government system and would be the key decision-maker in any major diplomatic agreement.

The statement comes amid ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf region and follows Trump's pattern of expressing openness to direct diplomacy with adversarial leaders, including previous summits with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.