Trump claims ‘Iran wants to talk, and we’ll talk’ as he rolls out Board of Peace

President Trump claimed Thursday that Iran’s theocratic leaders “want to talk, and we’ll talk” following weeks-long demonstrations that have rocked the Islamic Republic.

Trump made the comments during remarks at a ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, establishing an international Board of Peace meant to oversee the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

President Trump speaks during a session on his Board of Peace initiative at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. AP

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him gesturing during a meeting with the people in Tehran on Jan. 17, 2026. KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty Images

This past weekend, Trump publicly called for new leadership in Iran, accusing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of “the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before.”

The president warned Jan. 2 the US was “locked and loaded and ready to go” if Iran began indiscriminately killing protesters who took to the streets beginning Dec. 28 in response to the country’s economic spiral.

Despite reports that tens of thousands had indeed been slaughtered in the streets by Tehran’s paramilitary forces, Trump walked back threats to strike Iran after the regime said it would halt plans to conduct mass executions.