Iran has dismissed the possibility of direct negotiations with the United States regarding its nuclear program, marking its first official reaction to a letter from President Donald Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sent earlier this month.
President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Sunday, March 30, 2025, that Tehran is not open to face-to-face discussions but remains open to indirect talks. The response was conveyed through Oman, which has historically acted as a mediator between the two countries.
“We don’t avoid talks; it’s the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far,” Pezeshkian remarked during a televised Cabinet meeting. “They must prove that they can build trust.”
This development occurs amid rising tensions following Trump’s return to office and the reinstatement of his “maximum pressure” approach against Iran. Since Trump unilaterally exited the 2015 nuclear agreement during his initial term, relations have worsened significantly, leading to a sharp decline in Iran’s currency and heightened regional conflicts.
Trump’s letter, which arrived in Tehran on March 12, suggested negotiations but included cautions about possible military actions. While specific contents remain undisclosed, Trump previously hinted at the message’s tone in a television appearance.
“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,'” Trump stated.
The U.S. State Department responded to Pezeshkian’s announcement with a firm stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, emphasizing that President Trump has made it clear that the U.S. cannot allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. He has also expressed a willingness to negotiate a deal with Iran. However, if the Iranian regime rejects an agreement, the president has stated he will explore alternative actions, which would have severe consequences for Iran.
Trump commented on the situation while traveling from Florida to Washington, D.C., on Sunday evening. “We’ll see if we can get something done,” he told reporters. “And if not, it’s going to be a bad situation.”
This exchange is the latest chapter in the ongoing U.S.-Iran tension, reminiscent of Trump’s letter exchanges with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his first term. Although those exchanges led to meetings, they did not produce substantial agreements to limit North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.
Khamenei had previously dismissed Trump’s attempts, having mockingly rejected a similar effort in 2019 when Trump tried to send a letter through then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Since Pezeshkian’s election six months ago, Iran’s stance on engaging with the West has shifted. Initially campaigning to restore international relations, the moderate president has recently aligned with Khamenei’s more challenging position, especially after the Supreme Leader warned in February that talks “are not intelligent, wise or honorable with his administration.”
Mixed signals have emerged from Iran. At recent Quds Day demonstrations, traditionally anti-American and anti-Israeli, participants were reportedly directed to limit their chants to “Death to Israel!” rather than the usual “Death to America!” However, other indicators suggest continued hostility, such as Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf’s warning that American military bases in the region would be vulnerable if Iran’s sovereignty were violated.
Qalibaf warned on Friday that the Americans are fully aware of their own vulnerabilities. He stated that any violation of Iran’s sovereignty would act like a spark in a gunpowder depot, igniting chaos across the entire region. He added that neither their bases nor their allies would be secure in such a situation.
This standoff occurs amid growing international concerns over Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Both Israel and the United States have consistently declared they will not permit Iran to develop nuclear weapons, fueling fears of potential military conflict as Tehran continues to enrich uranium to levels approaching weapons-grade—a practice commonly associated with nuclear-armed states.
A report from the International Atomic Energy Agency in February indicated that Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium. Although Iran asserts its program is for peaceful purposes, some officials have increasingly suggested the country might pursue nuclear weapons.
Iran’s reluctance to engage directly with Trump likely stems partly from his order to kill Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in a Baghdad drone strike in January 2020. U.S. officials have claimed that Iran plotted to assassinate Trump before his November election victory, though Tehran denied these allegations while continuing to issue threats against him.
Trump has suggested he’s considering both military action and secondary tariffs if Iran refuses to agree to a nuclear deal. “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” he reportedly said in a telephone interview with NBC on Sunday.
The ongoing tensions underscore the complex challenges facing both nations as they navigate the future of Iran’s nuclear program amid deep-seated mistrust and regional instability.
