WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump reportedly sent a letter to Iran setting a two-month timeframe for negotiating a new nuclear agreement.
It’s still uncertain whether the two-month timeline starts upon the delivery of the letter or from when negotiations begin, according to Axios. The report further indicated that if Iran declines Trump’s overtures and chooses not to engage in talks, the likelihood of military action by the U.S. or Israel against Iran’s nuclear sites could increase substantially.
Axios reported that former President Trump sent a “tough” letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei, proposing negotiations for a new nuclear deal while warning of consequences for Iran’s continued advancements in its nuclear program. Trump emphasized that he does not want open-ended negotiations and set a deadline of two months to reach an agreement.
The letter, which was delivered to Tehran last week by Emirati diplomat Anwar Gargash, came as Khamenei dismissed the possibility of talks with the US. He stated that the proposed negotiations would not alleviate sanctions but could instead tighten them even further. These comments were made prior to Khamenei’s review of the letter.
In response, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman indicated that the country is currently evaluating Trump’s letter and would issue a response after the assessment is completed.
Since taking office for a second term in January, Trump has reactivated his “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, a strategy he also employed during his initial term. This US policy aims to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, a claim that Tehran has consistently denied.
