Iran has denied receiving a letter from former US President Donald Trump, who recently claimed to have urged Iran’s leadership to negotiate over its nuclear programme. Tehran dismissed the prospect of talks, citing ongoing US sanctions as a major roadblock to diplomacy.
An Iranian embassy spokesperson confirmed on Friday that no communication from Trump had reached Iranian officials. This followed Trump’s statement in a Fox Business News interview, where he claimed to have written to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, proposing negotiations to avoid military conflict over Iran’s advancing nuclear activities.
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“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,’” Trump said, stressing his preference for a diplomatic solution while warning of potential military action.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated Iran’s refusal to negotiate as long as US sanctions persist, rejecting Trump’s claims. Araghchi emphasized that Iran will not engage in direct talks unless Washington lifts its “maximum pressure” policy, which has crippled Iran’s economy, particularly its oil sector.
This diplomatic stalemate comes amid concerns over Iran’s enrichment of uranium to near-weapons-grade levels, sparking fears of potential military conflict. While the US and Israel have vowed to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
Despite the tense situation, the United Nations continues to back dialogue as the preferred path to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
