Trump sends letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader on nuclear talks

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - United States President Donald Trump said he sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Thursday in a bid to open nuclear negotiations.

"I've written them a letter, saying I hope you're going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily it's going to be a terrible thing for them," Trump told Fox Business in an interview broadcast Friday, AFP reported. 

"You can't let them have a nuclear weapon," Trump added. 

During his first tenure in office, Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers that saw Tehran agree to curb its nuclear enrichment program in exchange for much-needed relief from crippling sanctions.

In February, Khamenei said it would be “unwise” to negotiate with the US, after Trump said he would be open to making a new nuclear deal with Tehran.

Iran’s foreign minister ruled out talks as long as Washington persists with its sanctions policy.

“We will not enter any direct negotiations with the US so long as they continue their maximum pressure policy and their threats, but it doesn't mean that regarding our nuclear programme, we will not negotiate with other parties,” Abbas Araghchi told AFP on Friday. 

If the US seeks a new nuclear deal with Iran, it must engage in fair negotiations, he added. 

Soon after coming into power, Trump restored his “maximum pressure” policy that authorizes sanctions with the goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon or expanding its missile program, warning that Tehran is “too close” to a nuclear weapon.

Since the US withdrew from the deal in 2018, Iran has significantly increased its nuclear program, but has said it does not pursue a weapon.

Rafael Grossi, head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, on Monday said “Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60%.” 

“Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state enriching to this level, causing me serious concern,” he added. 

In December, Iran warned European signatories of the 2015 deal that the possible activation of the agreement's “snapback” provisions - triggering the reinstatement of United Nations Security Council sanctions - would compel Tehran to exit the non-proliferation treaty. The “snapback” mechanism is set to expire in the autumn of 2025.