Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Sunday that Tehran has officially rejected direct negotiations with the United States in response to a letter from President Donald Trump regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
“Although the possibility of direct negotiations between the two sides was rejected in this response, it was emphasized that the path for indirect talks remains open,” Pezeshkian stated.
This marks the first official acknowledgment of Iran’s reaction to Trump’s outreach, signaling that tensions between the two nations may escalate further. It remains uncertain whether Trump will agree to indirect negotiations, as previous attempts have often failed.
Trump’s communication with Tehran comes amid warnings from both the U.S. and Israel that they will not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons. Concerns of a potential military confrontation have grown as Iran continues enriching uranium to near-weapons-grade levels.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes, though officials have increasingly suggested that developing a nuclear weapon remains an option.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has repeatedly emphasized that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is a top priority for his administration. In early March, he announced that he had sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, proposing a new approach to Iran’s nuclear program.
