Iran says not received Trump’s letter on nuclear negotiations

Iran on Friday stated that it had not received any latter for US President Donald Trump regarding nuclear negotiations.

A former US leader claimed that he had reached out to Tehran seeking to negotiate on rapidly advancing nuclear programme.

“We have not received such a letter so far,” an Iranian embassy spokesperson said, dismissing Trump’s assertion.

The statement came following Trump’s interview with Fox Business News, in which he claimed that he has sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging to negotiate a new nuclear agreement.

The interview, portions of which aired on Friday, is set to be broadcast in full on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi ruled out the possibility of direct negotiations as long as US sanctions remain in place.

“We will not enter any direct negotiations with the US so long as they continue their maximum pressure policy and their threats,” Araghchi was quoted as saying by AFP.

Trump’s administration has continued to impose economic pressure on Tehran by imposing sanctions on its oil exports and other key sectors since returning to office in January.

Iranian state media highlighted Trump’s remarks, but there was no confirmation from Khamenei’s office regarding the receipt of any letter.

The development raises questions about the diplomatic outreach, especially given that past communications between US and Iranian leaders have often remained confidential.

It is worth mentioning there that Khamenei last August indicated a willingness for dialogue with US stating that there was “no harm” in engaging with adversaries.

His remarks followed the election of reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian in June, who has advocated for a return to negotiations, similar to the 2015 nuclear deal from which Trump withdrew in 2018.

The latest exchange comes amid heightened tensions, with both the US and Israel warning that they would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.