US-Iran diplomacy remains channeled primarily through President Masoud Pezeshkian and intermediaries rather than direct leader-to-leader contact with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed the role after his father’s death in early 2026 strikes. Trump has signaled openness to engaging Pezeshkian at the UN General Assembly while outlining options of a deal, economic pressure, or military action, yet Iranian officials have dismissed prospects of a Khamenei meeting as unrealistic and continued to set preconditions via mediators for any broader talks. Ongoing disputes over the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief, and compliance with the June 2026 memorandum sustain friction, with recent Iranian statements emphasizing resistance to US demands and warnings of escalation. These dynamics, combined with Khamenei’s limited public profile and preference for controlled messaging, keep direct Trump-Khamenei contact improbable in the near term absent a major breakthrough or de-escalation.