CNN
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In a letter proposing negotiations on a new nuclear deal with Iran’s top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Donald Trump revealed that Iran has a two-month deadline for an agreement, a source familiar with the letter told CNN.
The directive comes as Trump said he wanted to sign a deal with Iran and gain more control over their nuclear capabilities. Trump’s Middle Eastern envoy Steve Witkov delivered a letter to UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan while in Abu Dhabi last week, sources said. The UAE later gave letters to the Iranians.
“President Trump has made it clear to Ayatollah Khamenei that he wants to diplomatically resolve the conflict over Iran’s nuclear program, and if this is not possible, there will be other ways to resolve the conflict.”
Axios was the first to report on the text content.
Trump discussed a potential nuclear deal with Iran in a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, according to how the White House call was read.
The leadout said Trump and Putin “extensively spoke about the Middle East as a region of potential cooperation to prevent future conflicts. They will further discuss the need to stop the proliferation of strategic weapons and work with others to ensure as much application as possible.”
“The two leaders shared the view that Iran should not be in a position to destroy Israel,” the read continued.
Earlier this month, Trump told Fox News, “There are two ways we can handle Iran: military or you do business. I’m not trying to hurt Iran, so I would prefer to do business.”
“I hope we will negotiate because it will be much better for Iran.” And they want to get the letter. Another way is that we can’t have nuclear weapons, so we have to do something,” Trump added.
It is unclear how the US will respond if Iran does not participate in the in-person meeting on the nuclear program. However, senior US officials have not ruled out potential military actions at future Iranian nuclear facilities, either in the US or through Israel.
During his first term in office, Trump withdrew from the Obama administration’s nuclear deal with Iran, ordering a US-led strike against Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, leading to further backlash from Tehran.
Trump returned to his “maximum pressure” campaign in Iran in his second term to segregate the country economically and diplomatically.
Khamenei recently said that the “Bully States” call for negotiations aims to control others rather than to resolve the issue.
“The arguments of some bullying states regarding negotiations are not about solving the problem, but about controlling and imposing their own expectations,” Khamenei said this month, as Iranian national media quoted.