Iran’s president announced on Sunday that the Islamic Republic has rejected direct negotiations with the United States concerning its rapidly advancing nuclear program. This statement marks Tehran’s first response to a letter from former President Donald Trump sent to Iran’s supreme leader.
President Masoud Pezeshkian indicated that while Iran is not entirely opposed to dialogue, it remains open to indirect negotiations. However, such discussions have stalled since Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers in 2018.
Tensions in the region have escalated, with attacks at sea and on land, the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, and U.S. airstrikes targeting Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The possibility of military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities remains a concern.
“We’re not avoiding talks; it’s the breach of promises that has caused problems,” Pezeshkian said in a televised statement. “They need to prove they can be trusted.”
The White House has not responded to Iran’s announcement.
Trump’s letter coincided with warnings from both Israel and the U.S. that they would not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons. This comes amid growing fears of a military confrontation, as Iran enriches uranium at near-weapons-grade levels—something typically associated with nuclear-armed states.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes, despite increasing threats to pursue nuclear weapons. A February report from the United Nations nuclear watchdog revealed that Iran had intensified its production of near-weapons-grade uranium.
In January 2020, Trump ordered an airstrike that killed Iran’s top general in Baghdad, further heightening tensions.
