Trump says he sent a letter to Iran’s leader proposing nuclear deal

Trump says he sent a letter to Iran’s leader proposing nuclear deal

Axios-March07th2025

President Trump said he sent a letter on Wednesday to Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and stressed that he wants to reach a deal on the country’s nuclear program.

Why it matters: Trump’s letter to Khamenei, which the president revealed in an interview with Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo that will air in full on Sunday, is the first significant engagement between the U.S. and Iran since the new administration took office.

Iran’s mission to the UN said no letter from Trump had been received.

What he’s saying: Trump reiterated in the interview that he wants to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Iran.

“The other alternative is you have to do something because Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said in the interview.

Catch up quick: Khamenei said recently that he doesn’t support direct talks with the Trump administration because he doesn’t trust the U.S.

Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian said last week that he supports a dialogue with the U.S. but will follow Khamenei’s advice.

Flashback: Trump’s move follows a similar step by former President Barack Obama who sent a letter to Khamenei in 2009 proposing negotiations on a nuclear deal.

Trump sharply criticized Obama for the nuclear deal after it came together in his second term.
Trump pulled out of the deal during his first term in office.
The big picture: Iran’s nuclear program has made dramatic advances over the last four years and it is closer than ever to producing a nuclear weapon.
- Its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium is enough for six nuclear bombs if enriched to 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Go deeper… Iran 2025: Nuclear crisis awaits Trump

Editor’s note: This story was corrected to reflect that the letter was sent Wednesday (not Thursday).