From defiance to dialogue: How close are Iran and Trump to breakthrough on nuclear program?
Tehran's response to Trump's letter has been conveyed via Oman, raising hopes among Iranian moderates that a deal could be around the corner, despite earlier incendiary rhetoric from both sides.
TEHRAN — Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Iran has made an attempt to open "a window of diplomacy" with Washington, referring to his country's reply to a letter from US President Donald Trump that urged Iran to negotiate over its nuclear program.
"We carefully reviewed the letter, examined its different angles and conveyed the answer to the American side," Araghchi told the public broadcaster on Friday while attending state-organized annual anti-Israel Quds Day rallies in Tehran.
Trump's letter was delivered to the Iranian leadership earlier this month via senior Emirati diplomat Anwar Gargash. While its precise details remain open to speculation, the letter, according to Trump, presented Iran with an offer to starts talk to ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons.
"Part of the letter is intimidation, but we will not allow anyone to speak to the Iranian nation with a language of threats," Araghchi reaffirmed in his interview. He reinforced the notion that Tehran is not entirely opposed to dialogue and seeks indirect negotiations under the current circumstances, in which Trump's "maximum pressure" policy remains fully in force.
