Iran on Friday said it had not received any letter from US President Donald Trump regarding nuclear negotiations, despite the former US leader’s claim that he had reached out to Tehran’s leadership seeking talks on its 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 after Trump, in an interview with Fox Business News, claimed to have sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging negotiations on a new nuclear agreement. The interview, portions of which aired on Friday, is set to be broadcast in full on Sunday.
Iranian 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 pursued a policy of economic pressure against Tehran, imposing sanctions on its oil exports and other key sectors since his return 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.
Khamenei, in a speech last August, indicated a willingness for dialogue, 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. Concerns over a potential military confrontation have grown as Tehran continues to enrich uranium to near-weapons-grade levels.
Trump reiterated his stance on the matter, saying: “I hope you’re going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing.”
While confirming the letter’s existence, the White House did not disclose any specific offers made to Iran.
Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, though its officials have recently issued warnings suggesting they could pursue nuclear weapons amid ongoing tensions with Washington and Tel Aviv.
A recent report by the UN’s nuclear watchdog stated that Iran had accelerated its production of near-weapons-grade uranium. US intelligence assessments, however, suggest that while Tehran has taken steps that could facilitate the development of a nuclear device, it has not yet launched a weapons programme.
