US President Donald Trump said he has written to Iran, pressing it to open talks on preventing the development of nuclear weapons or face possible military action.
“I’ve written 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 for them,” Trump told Fox Business in a clip broadcast on Friday.
There was no immediate response from the foreign ministry in Iran, where it is currently the weekend, to a request for comment on Trump’s remarks.
The letter appeared to have been addressed to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The White House did not immediately respond to a request about that.
“There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal,” Trump said. “I would prefer to make a deal, because I’m not looking to hurt Iran. They’re great people.”
A landmark 2015 deal — known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — imposed curbs on Iran’s nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief.
It fell apart after Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018 in his first presidential term.
Tehran adhered to the deal until a year after Washington pulled out but then began rolling back its commitments.
Trump, who returned to the White House in January, reinstated his “maximum pressure” policy of sanctions against Iran over allegations that the country is seeking nuclear weapons capability.
Tehran has consistently denied the claims and repeatedly expressed a willingness to revive the accord, but efforts to that end have faltered.
Trump said in February he would like to make a deal with Iran that prevents that country from developing a nuclear weapon.
Russia has offered to mediate between the United States and Iran, a source briefed on discussions told Reuters on Tuesday, as the Kremlin vowed to do everything possible to facilitate a peaceful solution to tensions over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov discussed international efforts to resolve the situation around Iran’s nuclear programme with Iranian ambassador Kazem Jalali, the Russian Foreign Ministry said today.
Last month, United Nations atomic agency chief Rafael Grossi said Iran was “enriching [uranium] at 60 per cent, so almost weapon level” and that the 2015 deal was an “empty shell” that was “no longer fit for purpose”.
