President Donald Trump revealed Thursday that he sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday, signaling his intent to negotiate a new nuclear deal.
The disclosure, made during an interview with Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo set to air fully on Sunday, marks the first significant U.S.-Iran engagement since Trump’s second term began in January.
“I want to reach a deal on the country’s nuclear program,” Trump told Bartiromo, stressing urgency. “The other alternative is you have to do something because Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
READ: Trump Declares National Consumer Protection Week, Touts Crypto And Drug Price Moves
The move echoes a tactic from former President Barack Obama, who wrote to Khamenei in 2009 to kickstart talks that led to the 2015 nuclear accord—a deal Trump dismantled in 2018, lambasting it as weak. Iran’s mission to the United Nations, however, said Friday it had not received any letter, casting uncertainty over the outreach.
The stakes are high. The International Atomic Energy Agency reports Iran’s stockpile of 60% enriched uranium—enough for six nuclear bombs if bumped to 90% weapons-grade levels—has grown dramatically in the past four years, edging Tehran closer to a bomb than ever. Trump’s letter comes amid his “maximum pressure” policy redux, pairing sanctions with a push for talks, a shift from his first term’s hardline stance.
READ: Florida Rep. Donalds Slams CNN For Double Standard On Biden Vs. Trump Inflation Coverage
Iran’s leadership is split. Khamenei recently dismissed direct talks with Trump’s administration, citing distrust rooted in the U.S. exit from the 2015 deal. “Negotiations with America are not intelligent, wise, or honorable,” he said last month.
Yet President Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist elected in 2024, signaled openness to dialogue last week—while deferring to Khamenei’s ultimate authority. The supreme leader’s word carries weight in Iran’s theocracy, often overriding its civilian government.
Trump’s gambit revives a diplomatic playbook he once scorned. Obama’s outreach paved the way for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions until Trump’s withdrawal unleashed Tehran’s advances. Now, with Iran’s program accelerating, Trump insists on a new pact. “I hope they’re going to negotiate,” he said, hinting at military options if talks fail—a prospect that could jolt the Middle East.
For now, the letter’s fate—and Iran’s response—remains unclear. As Trump navigates his second term, this overture tests whether he can blend his deal-making instincts with the hardball tactics that defined his first. The world watches, with nuclear stakes higher than ever.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
