Iran says ready to negotiate indirectly with US

Iran said today (March 24) it is ready to negotiate indirectly with the United States after US President Donald Trump sent a letter requesting negotiations to reach a new agreement on Tehran's nuclear program.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has received a letter from US President Donald Trump about possible negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has ruled out direct negotiations with the US, but said the two sides have the opportunity to negotiate indirectly, according to AFP on March 24.

Iran's top diplomat confirmed that Tehran will not sit down for direct talks with Washington amid threats and as long as President Trump maintains his policy of "maximum pressure" on the Islamic Republic.

Following that policy framework during his first term in the White House, Mr. Trump in 2018 withdrew the US from the Iran nuclear deal signed in 2015 between Tehran and Western countries, and reimposed sanctions on the Middle Eastern country.

However, during his second term, on March 7, Mr. Trump said he had written a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, calling on Tehran to return to the negotiating table and warning that military action could be used if Iran refused.

The letter was delivered to Iran by United Arab Emirates (UAE) presidential adviser Anwar Gargash on March 12, Fars news agency reported at the time.

On March 21, Supreme Leader Khamenei commented that US threats would lead nowhere and warned that Tehran would take countermeasures if the Washington administration took any action that harmed Iran.

Foreign Minister Araghchi also viewed President Trump's letter as threatening, but at the same time opened up some opportunities and Tehran would soon respond.

Speaking to Fox News on March 21, US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff said President Trump's goal is to avoid the risk of conflict by building trust with Iran to find a solution to Iran's nuclear program. Mr. Witkoff emphasized that the letter was not intended to threaten the Middle Eastern country.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/iran-noi-san-sang-dam-phan-gian-tiep-voi-my-185250324191325763.htm