Tensions between the US and Iran have erupted since Donald Trump demanded a new nuclear deal with Tehran within two months, or risk significant consequences. The US president sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei laying out the timeline, though it is not certain when the countdown began. If Tehran rejects his proposal and refuses to engage in negotiations, US or Israeli military action against its nuclear facilities would escalate, two sources briefed on the letter told Axios.
Ayatollah Khamenei said the US’ threats “will get them nowhere” during his annual speech marking Nowruz, the Persian New Year. He added: “The Americans should know threats will get them nowhere when confronting Iran. [Americans] and others should know that if they do anything malign to the Iranian nation, they will get a hard slap.”
The Republican announced the letter during an interview with Fox News, saying he “would rather negotiate a deal”, but “the time is coming up”.
He said: “The time is coming up. Something’s going to happen one way or the other. I hope that Iran – and I’ve written him a letter, saying, ‘I hope you’re going to negotiate’, because if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing for them.
“We can’t let them have a nuclear weapon. 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.”
Negar Mortazavi, senior fellow at the Center for International Policy and host of The Iran Podcast, criticised Mr Trump’s apporach, adding that both countries need compromise.
She told Newsweek: “The current trajectory of US and Iran relations is leading to possible conflict but it doesn’t have to be this way. Both sides seem to have the intention of engaging in diplomacy.
“President Trump has shown interested in negotiations and Iranians have also responded with the same interest. But Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ policy of peace through strength won’t work with Tehran.
“Iranians showed in Trump’s first term that ‘maximum pressure’ leads to maximum resistance from Iran. Both sides need to streamline their approaches and try to meet somewhere in the middle.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the letter “more of a threat” than a request, but acknowledged the opportunities it presented. He said Tehran was contemplating its response and would respond within the coming days.