Iran has turned down direct discussions with the United States regarding its progressing nuclear program, marking its initial official reaction to a letter sent by President Donald Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier this month.
On Sunday, March 30, President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that while Tehran is not open to face-to-face negotiations, the option of indirect talks remains possible. The communication was delivered through Oman, a traditional conduit between the two nations.
“We don’t avoid talks; it’s the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far,” Pezeshkian remarked in televised statements during a Cabinet meeting. “They must prove that they can build trust.”
This development comes amid growing tensions following Trump’s return to the presidency and reinstatement of his “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran. Since Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear agreement during his first term, relations have worsened, with Iran’s currency plummeting and regional conflicts escalating.
Trump’s letter, which reached Tehran on March 12, suggested negotiations but included cautions about possible military action. Although the contents are not fully disclosed, Trump had previously hinted at the nature of his message in a television interview.
“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,'” Trump stated.
The U.S. State Department reacted to Pezeshkian’s declaration with a strong position on Iran’s nuclear plans. It reiterated that President Trump has made clear that the U.S. cannot allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. He has also shown a readiness to negotiate a deal. However, if the Iranian government refuses, the president has indicated he will consider alternative actions with severe consequences for Iran.
Trump himself addressed the issue while traveling from Florida to Washington, D.C., on Sunday evening. “We’ll see if we can get something done,” he told reporters. “And if not, it’s going to be a bad situation.”
This exchange represents the latest chapter in the strained U.S.-Iran dynamics, with Trump’s approach reminiscent of his letter exchanges with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his first term. While those communications led to meetings, they did not result in meaningful agreements on North Korea’s nuclear arsenal.
Khamenei had previously dismissed Trump’s approaches, having mockingly rejected a similar attempt in 2019 when Trump sought to send a letter through then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Since Pezeshkian’s election six months ago, Iran’s stance on engaging with Western nations has shifted. Initially campaigning on promises to rebuild international relationships, the moderate Iranian president has recently aligned with Khamenei’s tougher stance, especially after the Supreme Leader warned in February that talks “are not intelligent, wise or honorable with his administration.”
Meanwhile, mixed signals have been coming from Iran. At recent Quds Day events, traditionally anti-American and anti-Israeli gatherings, participants were reportedly instructed to limit chants to “Death to Israel!” instead of the usual “Death to America!” However, other signs indicate continued hostility, such as Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf’s warning that U.S. military bases in the region would be susceptible to attack if Iran’s sovereignty were violated.
Qalibaf cautioned on Friday that the Americans are acutely aware of their vulnerabilities. He noted that any breach of Iran’s sovereignty would act like a spark in a gunpowder depot, igniting chaos across the region. In such a scenario, he added, neither their bases nor their allies would be safe.
The standoff occurs amid increasing global concerns about Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Both Israel and the United States have consistently stated they will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, fueling fears of potential military conflict as Tehran continues enriching uranium at nearly weapons-grade levels—a practice typically associated with countries possessing nuclear weapons.
A February report from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, indicated that Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium. Though Iran asserts its program is for peaceful purposes, some officials have increasingly suggested the country might pursue nuclear weapons.
Iran’s reluctance to engage directly with Trump likely stems partly from his order to kill Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in a Baghdad drone strike in January 2020. U.S. officials have claimed Iran plotted to assassinate Trump before his November election victory, though Tehran denied these allegations while continuing to issue threats against him.
Trump has suggested he’s considering both military action and secondary tariffs if Iran refuses to agree to a nuclear deal. “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” he reportedly said in a telephone interview with NBC on Sunday.
The ongoing tensions highlight the complex challenges facing both nations as they navigate the future of Iran’s nuclear program amid deep-seated mistrust and regional instability.
