As revealed by Axios, the letter sent by Donald Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei contained an ultimatum regarding a new nuclear deal. Tehran has two months to negotiate a new pact or else risk “serious consequences,” which include possible military action by the United States or Israel.
Iran’s nuclear program has made great progress in the past four years and the country is reportedly closer than ever to producing a nuclear weapon. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, its stockpile of 60 percent enriched uranium would be enough for six nuclear bombs if raised to 90 percent. However, at the moment the country has denied that it intends to equip itself with the weapon in question.
Two weeks ago, President Trump announced on Fox News that he had sent a letter to leader Khamenei, proposing direct negotiations. “We can’t let them have a nuclear weapon”, Trump said. “Something is going to happen very soon. I would rather have a peace deal than the other option, but the other option will solve the problem”.
The letter was delivered a few days ago by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff to UAE President Mohammed Bin Zayed during a meeting in Abu Dhabi before ending up on the desk of Iran’s Supreme Leader. According to sources, the U.S. president was rather harsh in his missive.
While he proposed negotiations on a new nuclear deal to Khamenei, he also warned him about the possible consequences of his refusal. Before the letter was delivered to the Iranians, the White House explained its contents to several allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
To date, the parties are far from reaching an agreement. Khamenei called Trump’s letter and his proposal “a deception” that is only intended to create the impression that Iran refuses to negotiate.
However, the Iranian mission to the UN did not rule out possible talks with the U.S., saying: “If the objective of negotiations is to address concerns vis-à-vis any potential militarization of Iran’s nuclear program, such discussions may be subject to consideration. But if the aim of the talks is the dismantlement of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program to claim that what Obama failed to achieve has now been accomplished, such negotiations will never take place”.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Ministry reported earlier this week that Trump’s letter is still under consideration, and that Tehran’s response is being drafted.
