Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that a recent letter sent by the president of the United States, Donald Trump, asking for new nuclear conversations was “actually more a threat”, and that Tehran would respond soon.
Araghchi told Iranian state television that, although the letter intended to offer opportunities, it was “actually a threat,” and added that Iran was now studying its contents and would respond “in the next few days.”
On March 7, Trump said he had written to the supreme leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asking for negotiations and warning of possible military actions if Iran refused.
Khamenei said that the United States’s invitation to conversations was aimed at deceiving world public opinion by portraying the United States as ready to negotiate and will go as little willing.
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that it will carry out an “thorough evaluation” before responding to the letter, which was delivered by a high -level United Arab Emirates diplomat on March 12.
Araghchi said the answer “will be sent through the appropriate channels,” without elaborating.
Wednesday, American news website AxiosCiting a US official and other sources, they reported that the letter included a “two -month deadline to reach a new nuclear agreement.”
Trump, who returned to the White House for a second term in January, has restored its policy of “maximum pressure” sanctions against Iran, reflecting its approach during its first mandate.
At that time, Trump withdrew unilaterally from an emblematic 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and the world powers, and reimpose radical economic sanctions. Tehran adhered to the 2015 agreement for a year after Washington withdrawal, but then began to recover its own commitments.
There were brief efforts to relive the agreement under the Joe Biden administration, but these went anywhere.
Tehran has repeatedly ruled out direct conversations with Washington, while US sanctions remain in place.
On Thursday, Araghchi reiterated that Iran “will definitely not negotiate directly while facing pressure, threats and greater sanctions.”
