Iran responds to Trump letter on nuclear talks, state media reports

Iranian state media reported that Oman has responded to a letter from US President Donald Trump urging Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was quoted by Iran’s top news agency, claimed an Iranian letter to Trump was “appropriately sent through Oman.”

According to Araghchi, “Our policy is still to avoid engaging in direct negotiations when under the greatest pressure and military threats,” as was the case in the past. However, indirect negotiations can continue as they did.

The minister said that “we have included a letter outlining our positions on the current situation and Mr. Trump’s letter.”

Trump withdrew the US from a 2015 agreement between Iran and other world powers that imposed strict restrictions on Tehran’s disputed nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. In his first term as president, Trump withdrew the United States.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) claims that Iran has amassed enough fissile material for multiple bombs but that it hasn’t made any effort to build one since Trump reimposed extensive US sanctions in 2018.

Iran claims that all of its nuclear energy is used for civilian purposes.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a 85-year-old Iranian leader, received new sanctions against Iran as part of the Trump administration’s maximum pressure campaign, so the contents of Trump’s letter to him have not been made public.

Anwar Gargash, a senior Emirati diplomat, delivered the letter to Iranian officials on March 12, 2025, while he was in Tehran.

Iran’s response to Trump’s request to reach a deal or face military repercussions was left open without further information, but Tehran has so far refused.

Iranian supreme leader Khamenei’s adviser Kamal Kharrazi earlier on Thursday claimed that Tehran had “not closed all doors” to negotiations.