Iran responds to Trump’s letter on nuclear talks, keeps indirect talks open

Iran has replied to a letter from United States President Donald Trump regarding nuclear negotiations, sending its response through Oman.

The Iranian state-run news agency citing Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said on March 27 that Tehran had issued an "appropriate" response via Oman, Caliber.Az reports.

"Our policy is still to not engage in direct negotiations while under maximum pressure and military threats; however, as it was the case in the past, indirect negotiations can continue," Araghchi was quoted as saying.

He added that Iran’s response included a letter outlining its position on both the current situation and Trump’s correspondence.

During his first term in office, Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear agreement, which imposed strict restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief. Since the US exit in 2018 and the subsequent reinstatement of economic sanctions, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has stated that Iran has accumulated enough fissile material for multiple nuclear weapons but has not taken steps to build one. Tehran insists its nuclear programme is solely for civilian energy purposes.

The contents of Trump’s letter, which was addressed to Iran’s 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have not been disclosed. The message was delivered to Iranian officials on March 12 by Anwar Gargash, a senior Emirati diplomat, while he was in Tehran.

Details of Iran’s response remain undisclosed, though Tehran has so far dismissed Trump’s warnings to negotiate or face military action.

Earlier on March 27, Kamal Kharrazi, an adviser to Khamenei, stated that Iran had "not closed all doors" to discussions. "It is ready for indirect negotiations with the United States in order to evaluate the other party, state its own conditions and make the appropriate decision," he told state media.

By Aghakazim Guliyev