Iran has stated that Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic adviser to the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), delivered a letter from former U.S. President Donald Trump to Iran’s leadership, as reported by Iranian state media on Wednesday.
The letter was sent at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. While Trump maintained a firm stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions, he also suggested the possibility of renewed negotiations.
Read more: Iran’s President to Trump: I will not Negotiate, ‘Do Whatever the Hell You Want’
Last week, Trump claimed he had sent a message to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, proposing talks for a revised nuclear agreement. However, he warned that Tehran had only two choices: negotiate on Washington’s terms or face military action.
Khamenei rejected the offer outright, asserting that Iran would not succumb to external pressure or threats, which he described as “excessive demands.”
Similarly, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian dismissed the prospect of talks under coercion, responding to Trump with a blunt remark: “Do whatever the hell you want,” as reported by Iranian state media.
On Wednesday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, confirmed that Gargash had met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi but declined to provide details of their discussions.
UAE-Iran Relations: Strategic Cooperation Amid Political Friction
The UAE, a close ally of the United States and host to American military bases, maintains complex diplomatic and economic relations with Iran. Despite political tensions, trade between the two nations has remained strong, with Dubai serving as a key commercial hub for Iranian businesses.
While Trump hinted at the possibility of a new nuclear agreement, his administration simultaneously reinstated its “maximum pressure” policy, aimed at crippling Iran’s economy by cutting it off from the global financial system and minimizing its oil exports.
Trump had previously withdrawn the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, reimposing stringent sanctions on Iran. In response, Tehran gradually reduced its compliance with the agreement, enriching uranium beyond the previously agreed limits.
Concerns Over Iran’s Nuclear Activities
Western nations have expressed concern over Iran’s growing stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently reported a significant increase in Tehran’s reserves of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, close to the 90 percent threshold needed for weapons-grade material.
On Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held a closed-door meeting at the request of six member states, including the U.S., the UK, and France, to address Iran’s nuclear advancements.
Iranian officials condemned the meeting, with Araqchi calling it an “unusual and questionable” move that could undermine diplomatic efforts. He emphasized that Iran remains engaged in nuclear talks with France, Britain, and Germany but warned that any UNSC actions could cast doubt on the legitimacy of ongoing negotiations.
Meanwhile, China’s foreign ministry announced that Iranian officials would meet with Chinese and Russian counterparts on Friday to discuss nuclear-related matters.
“Our negotiations with the Europeans will continue,” Araqchi stated, according to Iranian state media. “However, if the UN Security Council or the IAEA Board of Governors applies additional pressure on Iran, it will raise serious doubts about the credibility of these discussions.”
