US-Iran diplomacy remains strained amid an active conflict that began in early 2026, with Mojtaba Khamenei installed as Supreme Leader following his father's death in US-Israeli strikes. President Trump has publicly signaled openness to a meeting with the new leader if it advances a deal, stating in June that he would be “honored” to engage once terms align, while describing bilateral communications as ongoing at senior levels. Tehran has dismissed prospects of a direct encounter as unrealistic, with Khamenei issuing statements criticizing US commitments and linking any broader accord to Israeli actions in Lebanon and compensation demands. Negotiations continue in a low-profile manner through August, focused on sanctions, the Strait of Hormuz, and ceasefire implementation, though public rhetoric and military posturing persist on both sides.