DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump has sent a direct letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging renewed negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, marking a fresh diplomatic outreach after years of tension.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In a preview of a Fox Business News interview set to air on Sunday, Trump revealed he had written to Khamenei the day before, seeking a pathway to a new nuclear deal to replace the 2015 agreement that Trump withdrew from during his first term.
Iran’s state media quickly highlighted Trump’s remarks, but Khamenei’s office has not confirmed whether the letter was received. It remains unclear how the 85-year-old leader will respond, especially given his past reluctance to engage directly with Trump.
Trump’s letter comes at a critical moment, as both the U.S. and Israel have vowed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Tensions have escalated with Tehran enriching uranium close to weapons-grade levels — a step typically only taken by nations pursuing nuclear arms.
“I wrote 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 said in the interview. He reiterated that he prefers diplomacy but warned that military action is still on the table if Iran refuses to engage.
The White House confirmed the outreach, describing the letter as part of Trump’s broader strategy to pressure Iran while leaving room for diplomacy.
“I’d rather negotiate a deal,” Trump said. “It could be just as good as winning militarily. But the time is now — something’s going to happen one way or the other.”
Trump offered no specific details about the contents of the letter or what incentives, if any, were proposed to Tehran. The move echoes his past outreach to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which led to historic summits but no lasting agreements on Pyongyang’s nuclear program.
Iran has long insisted its nuclear program is purely peaceful. However, with tensions soaring due to U.S. sanctions and Iran’s ongoing feud with Israel, officials in Tehran have increasingly hinted at pursuing nuclear weapons if pressures persist.
U.S. intelligence agencies believe Iran has not formally launched a weapons program but has positioned itself to produce a nuclear device if it chooses. A recent report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) indicated Iran has significantly increased its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium.
During Trump’s first term, U.S.-Iran relations deteriorated sharply after he exited the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed heavy sanctions. In 2020, Trump ordered the assassination of Iran’s top military commander, Qassem Soleimani, in a Baghdad drone strike — an event that pushed the two nations dangerously close to open conflict.
Under the 2015 agreement, Iran was limited to enriching uranium to 3.67% purity with a stockpile capped at 300 kilograms (661 pounds). The IAEA’s latest report shows Iran now holds over 8,200 kilograms (more than 18,000 pounds), with some enriched to 60% — edging close to weapons-grade levels.
The letter also comes at a time of internal strain for Iran. Its economy remains battered by sanctions, and its currency, the rial, has plunged in value. Nationwide protests sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini over mandatory hijab laws have left deep scars, and women continue to defy the dress code.
Iran’s regional alliances are also under pressure. Tehran’s allies in the “Axis of Resistance” — including Hezbollah and militias in Iraq and Yemen — are reeling from recent Israeli strikes targeting their leaders. Direct clashes between Israel and Iran-linked forces have increased amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Khamenei has shown mixed signals on diplomacy. Last year, he hinted at openness to talks, saying “there’s no harm” in engaging with adversaries. But more recently, he warned that negotiations with the U.S. would be neither wise nor honorable, particularly with Trump.
Iranian officials have confirmed they have not yet received any letter from Trump, according to state news agency IRNA.
Whether this diplomatic overture opens a new path or ends in further confrontation remains to be seen.
Weissert reported from Washington. AP’s Amir Vahdat contributed from Tehran.
