Tehran: Iran has stated that it has not yet received a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump, despite his claims that he sent one seeking talks regarding Tehran’s nuclear program.
A spokesperson for Iran’s embassy dismissed reports of the letter on Friday, saying, “We have not received such a letter so far.”
Trump, in an interview with Fox Business News, said he had written to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging negotiations for a new agreement to curb Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear activities. However, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi ruled out direct negotiations while U.S. sanctions remain in place.
"We will not engage in direct talks with the U.S. as long as they continue their maximum pressure policy and threats," Araghchi told AFP.
Since taking office in January, Trump’s administration has imposed heavy sanctions on Iran, particularly targeting its oil sector, as part of a broader strategy to pressure Tehran. Iranian state media highlighted Trump’s comments, but there was no confirmation from Khamenei’s office regarding the letter.
Trump’s remarks come at a tense moment, as both the U.S. and Israel have warned against Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. The situation has raised concerns of a potential military conflict, particularly as Iran continues to enrich uranium at levels close to weapons-grade purity.
In the interview, Trump stated, “I hope you’re going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing.” He added that he sent the letter on Wednesday, but did not specify what was offered to Iran.
Khamenei has previously suggested openness to dialogue, saying in August that there was “no harm” in negotiating with adversaries. Iran’s newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian, who took office in June, has also advocated for diplomatic engagement with world powers, similar to the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump withdrew from in 2018.
Although U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Iran has not yet launched a weapons program, recent reports from the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog indicate that Tehran has ramped up its production of near-weapons-grade uranium.
Trump reiterated his stance that Iran must be stopped from obtaining nuclear weapons, saying, “The time is coming up. Something’s going to happen one way or the other.”
