Iran has refuted claims by US President Donald Trump that he sent a letter to the country’s leadership urging negotiations over its nuclear program. The Iranian government has firmly rejected the possibility of talks, citing ongoing US sanctions as a major barrier to any diplomatic engagement.
On Friday, a spokesperson for the Iranian embassy confirmed that Tehran had not received any communication from Trump. This statement followed the US president’s remarks in a recent interview, where he claimed to have sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, proposing discussions on a new deal to address Iran’s rapidly progressing nuclear activities.
In the interview, broadcast by Fox Business News, Trump stated, “I’ve written them a letter saying, ‘I hope you’re going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing.’” He expressed hope for a diplomatic resolution but warned that military action could be a consequence if negotiations fail.
The White House corroborated Trump’s claims, confirming that a letter had been sent in an effort to negotiate a deal similar to the 2015 agreement reached under the Obama administration.
**Iran’s Firm Stance**
Despite Trump’s outreach, Iran’s position remains unchanged. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated that Tehran would not engage in direct talks with the US as long as sanctions and threats persist. “We will not enter any direct negotiations with the US so long as they continue their maximum pressure policy and their threats,” Araghchi told AFP.
Since Trump took office, his administration has reinstated stringent sanctions on Iran, including severe restrictions on its oil exports. The “maximum pressure” campaign aims to compel Iran to return to the negotiating table, but Iran insists its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. However, the international community remains concerned about its potential to develop weapons-grade uranium.
**Mixed Signals from Khamenei**
In August 2024, Supreme Leader Khamenei had indicated a willingness to engage with the US, stating that there was “no harm” in talking to the “enemy.” However, his recent statements have contradicted this stance, dismissing the prospect of negotiations with Washington as “not intelligent, wise, or honourable.”
Khamenei has also previously ignored Trump’s attempts at communication, including a letter delivered by the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2019.
**Escalating Tensions**
The diplomatic standoff between the US and Iran has intensified, with both Israel and the US vowing to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. US intelligence reports suggest that while Iran has not yet launched a formal weapons program, it has taken steps that could enable it to produce nuclear arms in the future.
The situation remains precarious, with growing concerns about a potential military confrontation as Iran continues to enrich uranium to near-weapons-grade levels.
**International Support for Diplomacy**
Despite the current deadlock, the United Nations has expressed support for Trump’s efforts to revive diplomatic talks, emphasizing that dialogue remains the most effective way to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear activities.
The ongoing tensions highlight the challenges of resolving the nuclear dispute, with both sides entrenched in their positions and the risk of escalation looming large.
