Trump Calls on Iran's Supreme Leader to Participate in Nuclear Discussions

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he wrote to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging negotiations to prevent nuclear weapons development.He warned that failure to engage could lead to military action.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, responded that Iran would not negotiate as long as the U.S. continues its “maximum pressure” policy. However, he did not directly address Trump’s letter. Trump’s approach signals a shift in tone from his earlier hardline stance and could strain ties with Israel, which conducted airstrikes in Iran last year.

Speaking to Fox Business, Trump emphasized that diplomacy would benefit Iran, but military intervention remained an option.

The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), brokered under President Barack Obama, limited Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. However, Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018, reimposing sanctions.