Iran leader rejects nuclear talks with US as Trump letter arrives

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has explicitly rejected proposals for negotiations with the United States regarding its nuclear program. Simultaneously, Tehran has confirmed receipt of a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump. This stance further intensifies the existing tensions between the two countries over the nuclear issue.

Last week, Trump stated that the letter proposed negotiations on an agreement aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and averting potential military action. Although Khamenei stated he had not seen the letter, which was delivered by an official from the United Arab Emirates, he dismissed it as "deceiving public opinion."

Khamenei questioned, "What is the point of negotiating when we know they will not abide by their commitments?" He was referring to Trump's decision during his first term to abandon the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. He also warned that Iran would retaliate if its nuclear facilities were attacked.

Khamenei emphasized, "Iran does not seek war, but if the Americans or their proxies take the wrong action, our response will be decisive and certain, and the United States will suffer the greatest damage." The Supreme Leader, who holds ultimate decision-making power on all state matters, also reiterated that Iran is "not interested in nuclear weapons."

A decade ago, Iran reached a landmark agreement with six world powers, including China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, to limit its nuclear activities and allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to conduct oversight, in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. However, Trump unilaterally announced the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 and reinstated stringent U.S. economic sanctions, calling it "the worst deal ever" because it failed to adequately prevent Iran from potentially developing a nuclear bomb.

In response, Iran gradually violated the terms of the agreement, particularly those restricting the production of enriched uranium. Enriched uranium can be used both to fuel nuclear power plants and to manufacture nuclear weapons. The IAEA stated last month that Iran had stockpiled nearly 275 kilograms (606 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60%, which is close to weapons-grade. Theoretically, if enriched to 90%, this amount of uranium would be sufficient to produce six nuclear bombs.

The United States and Israel have both warned that they will never allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons. Israel has threatened to attack Iran's nuclear facilities if necessary. Last year, Israel stated that it had attacked parts of Iran's nuclear program in response to missile attacks from Iran.

In a television interview broadcast last Friday, Trump stated, "There are two ways to deal with Iran: military means, or reach an agreement. I would prefer to reach an agreement, because I don't want to hurt Iran. They are a great people." He added, "I have already written them a letter saying, 'I hope you will negotiate,' because if we have to take military action, it will be a terrible thing for them."

The White House has not disclosed any details regarding the content of the letter. Iranian sources stated that Anwar Gargash, a presidential advisor to the United Arab Emirates, delivered the letter to Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Although the Supreme Leader dismissed the idea of negotiations with the United States, the Iranian mission to the United Nations issued a statement on Sunday stating that Iran might consider negotiations if the "goal is to resolve concerns about the potential militarization of Iran's nuclear program."

Araghchi also stated on Wednesday that nuclear talks with the United Kingdom, France, and Germany are "ongoing," while the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that China, Russia, and Iran will hold a trilateral meeting in Beijing on Friday to discuss "the Iranian nuclear issue."