The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, during a press conference with his Armenian counterpart in Yerevan, March 25, 2025. (Credit: Karen Minasyan / AFP)
Iran rejected direct negotiations with the United States on Sunday, deeming it "meaningless" amid U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion for talks without intermediaries and threats of bombing the country if diplomacy fails. Western countries, led by the United States, have long suspected Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons. Iran denies these allegations, insisting its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes, including energy production.
Last month, Donald Trump sent a letter to Iranian leaders calling for negotiations on their nuclear program. However, the U.S. president also threatened to bomb Iran if diplomacy fails and imposed additional sanctions on Iran's oil sector.
"Irrelevant direct negotiations with a party that constantly threatens to resort to force... and whose various officials express contradictory positions would not make sense," said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday evening, according to remarks reported by his ministry on Sunday. "But we remain committed to diplomacy and are ready to explore the path of indirect negotiations," added Araghchi.
Iran and the United States, once close allies during the Pahlavi monarchy, have not had diplomatic relations since 1980, following the hostage-taking of American diplomats at their embassy in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution.
The two countries have engaged indirectly through the Swiss embassy in Tehran, with Oman having played a mediation role in the past, and Qatar to a lesser extent. Trump's letter to Iran was delivered through the United Arab Emirates.
'Peace in the region'
Donald Trump's letter was delivered to Iran through the United Arab Emirates. Tehran responded at the end of March via Oman. On Sunday, the head of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff, General Mohammad Bagheri, revealed the content of Iran's reply during a state television broadcast.
"We stated in the letter that we would respond with all our strength to any military threat, but we are not warmongers and do not intend to start a war," said General Bagheri. "The letter also indicated that we seek peace in the region," he added.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would prefer to hold "direct negotiations" with Iran.
"It goes faster, and you understand the other side much better than when going through intermediaries," the U.S. president argued. Trump mentioned that the Iranians "wanted intermediaries," but he "doesn't think that is still the case," he added while aboard Air Force One.
'What's the point of threatening?'
President Trump stated Thursday that he would prefer to hold "direct negotiations" with Iran. "It goes faster, and you understand the other side much better than going through intermediaries," the U.S. president argued.
"The Iranians wanted intermediaries, but I don't think they want that anymore," Trump added aboard Air Force One. "If you want to negotiate, what's the point of threatening?" questioned Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian on Saturday, who was elected last year with a promise to resume dialogue with the West to ease sanctions and revive the economy.
In 2015, Iran reached an agreement with the permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, Russia, the United States, France and the United Kingdom) and Germany to regulate its nuclear activities. The agreement promised relief from sanctions in exchange for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program.
In 2018, Donald Trump dramatically withdrew the U.S. from the deal during his first term and reimposed sanctions. In retaliation, Iran distanced itself from the agreement and accelerated its nuclear program. Iran insists it is not seeking nuclear weapons but warned that it "will have no choice but to do so" if the country is attacked, as stated by Ali Larijani, a close advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Ali Larijani, a close advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned on Monday that while Iran does not seek to acquire nuclear weapons, it will "have no choice but to do so" if the country is attacked.
Citing an anonymous Iranian official, Reuters reported that the Supreme Leader has ordered the armed forces to be placed on high alert. According to the official, Tehran fears it has roughly two months to reach an agreement with the United States, as prolonged negotiations could lead to Israel launching an attack on Iran. The official also indicated that such an attack would result in the reimposition of all international sanctions on Iran.
