President Donald Trump said Tuesday that discussions with Iran are taking place despite conflicting public statements from Tehran, offering the remarks during an interview on Fox & Friends as host Brian Kilmeade questioned him about the status of negotiations.
The interview covered several topics, including the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, whose memorial service in Washington, D.C., was scheduled for later in the day. Kilmeade reflected on Graham’s close relationship with the president before turning the conversation toward Iran and Trump’s upcoming discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Kilmeade remarked that Graham had enjoyed golfing with Trump and had a passion for combining work with recreation while spending time with the president. He added that Iran had been at the top of Graham’s list of concerns and noted reports that Trump was speaking with leaders about the situation.
At the same time, Kilmeade pointed out that Iranian officials had publicly claimed they were not holding talks with the United States and intended to pause as long as the U.S. did the same.
Trump quickly disputed that characterization.
“Well, they just came out and said we are talking,” the president responded.
Kilmeade then pressed for additional details, asking directly, “So could you tell me who you’re talking to Mr. President?”
Trump did not identify any individuals but suggested that public statements from Iran have not always matched what takes place behind closed doors.
“For some reason, we can be in the midst of a beautiful discussion and they’ll say, we’re not talking or we did not discuss nuclear,” Trump said.
According to the president, nuclear issues have been the central focus of the conversations.
“Well that is all we discuss because they’ll never have a nuclear weapon, they understand that,” Trump said.
Trump added that the talks had been productive.
“We have had some very good talks,” he said.
The president also reflected on Graham’s views regarding Iran, describing the late South Carolina senator as someone who had long taken a hawkish approach toward the country. Trump said, however, that Graham’s perspective had shifted in recent weeks.
According to Trump, Graham had come to believe that reaching an agreement would be preferable under the current circumstances.
“He was very much a hawk on Iran,” Trump said. “Over the last few weeks, I would say he became, if you could make a deal, before making a deal in this case than enjoying rest of the country.”
Trump also remarked on the condition of Iran, saying, “We’ve destroyed most of it frankly,” before adding that Graham believed it was “a good time to make a deal, nice time to make a deal.”
Kilmeade later asked the president what he believed a successful agreement with Iran would look like.
Rather than outlining the specifics of a potential deal, Trump shifted the conversation to Graham’s broader foreign policy views. He contrasted the senator’s position on Iran with his outlook on Ukraine, saying Graham remained “very militant” on that conflict.
Trump concluded by characterizing Graham as someone who consistently favored military action.
“I mean Lindsey liked war. He was a guy who liked war,” Trump said. “I jokingly say and nothing funny about it but he’s never seen a war that he didn’t like.”
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