Iran has claimed that Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has delivered a letter from US President Donald Trump to Tehran’s leadership, state media reported on Wednesday.

The purported letter comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, as Trump reiterates his hardline stance on Iran’s nuclear programme while also suggesting the possibility of renewed negotiations.

Last week, Trump said he had sent a message to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, proposing talks over a new nuclear deal. However, he also warned that Tehran had only two options: to negotiate under Washington’s terms or face military action.

Khamenei swiftly dismissed the proposal, stating that Iran would not be pressured into negotiations with what he described as “excessive demands” and threats.

On Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also rejected any talks under duress, telling Trump to “do whatever the hell you want,” according to Iranian state media.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, confirmed that Gargash had met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Wednesday, though he declined to share details of their discussions.

Strategic ties despite tensions

The UAE, a key American ally in the Gulf and host to US troops, maintains complex diplomatic and economic relations with Iran. Despite longstanding political tensions, trade between the two nations has remained robust, with Dubai serving as a vital commercial hub for Iranian businesses.

While Trump has hinted at a possible nuclear deal, his administration has reinstated the "maximum pressure" campaign, a strategy that previously aimed to cripple Iran’s economy by isolating it from the global financial system and reducing its oil exports to near zero.

Trump had unilaterally exited the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, reimposing stringent sanctions on Iran. In response, Tehran gradually scaled back its commitments under the accord, enriching uranium beyond agreed limits.

Western concerns over Iran’s uranium stockpile

Western powers have raised alarms over Iran’s increasing stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported last month that Tehran’s uranium reserves enriched to 60 per cent purity—close to the 90 per cent required for weapons-grade material—had grown significantly.

On Wednesday, a closed-door meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was held at the request of six member states, including the US, Britain, and France, to discuss Iran’s nuclear advancements.

Iranian officials criticised the session, with Araqchi calling it a “new and bizarre” move that undermined diplomatic goodwill. He reiterated that Iran remains engaged in nuclear talks with France, Britain, and Germany but warned that any UNSC action could cast doubt on the legitimacy of these discussions.

Meanwhile, China’s foreign ministry announced that Beijing and Moscow would host Iranian officials on Friday to discuss the “Iranian nuclear issue.”

“Our negotiations with the Europeans will continue,” Araqchi said, according to Iranian state media. “However, if the UN Security Council or the IAEA Board of Governors moves to exert pressure on Iran, it will raise serious questions about the legitimacy of these talks.”