Washington, Oct 13 (V7N)- US President Donald Trump has suggested that Washington may have gone too far in targeting Iran’s leadership, saying the United States is struggling to determine whom to contact for potential talks with Tehran.

Speaking at an election rally in Youngstown, Ohio, Trump said, “We may have gone too far in targeting the leadership. Because now we don't know who we're talking to anymore.”

He also claimed that nobody wanted to become Iran’s president, adding that potential candidates were reluctant to take on the role.

However, Masoud Pezeshkian has served as Iran’s president since July 2024.

Trump acknowledged the difficulty of identifying Iranian officials for negotiations, saying, “To be honest, we're having a hard time figuring out who to talk to. I think we’ve come a long way.”

The US president also repeated his earlier claim that Iran’s air force and 159 ships had been destroyed. Referring to the vessels, he said they were now “resting beautifully on the bottom of the sea.”

Trump’s remarks come amid continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf region. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), at least 19 attacks on ships have been reported since October 1.

The continued maritime incidents have raised concerns about shipping security and the wider regional conflict, while uncertainty remains over prospects for direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

END/SMA/AJ