AP
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The Islamic Republic said on Sunday that it refused to directly negotiate with the US over a rapidly moving forward nuclear program, and provided Tehran’s first response to a letter sent by President Donald Trump to the country’s top leader.
President Masuud Pezeshkian said Iran’s response, which took place through the Sultan of Oman, left open the possibility of indirect negotiations with Washington. However, such talks have not progressed since Trump unilaterally withdrawn America in his first term from Tehran’s nuclear deal with the world power in 2018.
Since then, tensions in the region have surged with attacks at sea and onshore. Then came the Israeli-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Israel targeted extremist group leaders across Iran’s self-explained “axis of resistance.” As the US is currently carrying out intense airstrikes targeting Iran’s Iranian-backed Hooti rebels in Yemen, the risks of military action targeting Iran’s nuclear program remain on the table.
“We will not avoid consultations. It is a violation of our promise that has caused problems so far,” Pezeschkian said in a television statement. “They have to prove they can build trust.”
The White House did not provide an immediate response to the announcement.
Trump’s letter came as both Israel and the US warned that Iran would never acquire nuclear weapons.
Iran has long argued that its program is a peaceful end, despite its officials increasingly threatening to pursue bombs.
Since Trump returned to the White House, his administration has consistently said Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons. However, a February report said Iran accelerated production of uranium, which is close to weapons, according to a report by the UN nuclear watchdog.
Trump also ordered the attack in January 2020 that killed a top Iranian general on the Baghdad Drone Strike.