Iran Expecting Letter From Trump

By Amir Daftari

U.S. President Donald Trump's letter to Iran's leadership will be delivered by the United Arab Emirates, Tehran said on Wednesday.

The letter, urging Iran to engage in talks on a new nuclear agreement, follows continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear program and U.S. sanctions.

Newsweek has reached out to Iran's Foreign Ministry and the U.S. State Department for comment.

Why It Matters

The exchange underscores ongoing diplomatic tension between Iran and the U.S. Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and subsequent reimposition of his "maximum pressure" policy have fueled Iran's defiant rhetoric, with Tehran steadily advancing its nuclear program.

It also comes at a time of increasing speculation over whether Israel could attack Iran's nuclear program.

What to Know

Iranian media reported that UAE Presidential Advisor Anwar Gargash was to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran on Wednesday. The meeting follows Araghchi's statement that an Arab envoy would soon deliver Trump's letter to Iran.

"Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic advisor to the president of the United Arab Emirates, will meet and talk with Abbas Araghchi," the state-affiliated Fars News Agency reported.

Trump's Announcement

On Friday, Trump announced that he had sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader proposing nuclear negotiations. "I said I hope you're going to negotiate, because it's going to be a lot better for Iran." Trump stated in an interview with Fox News.

Initially, Iran said that it hadn't received anything from the U.S. leader, with Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stating on Monday, "We did not receive a letter." Now, Araghchi says the letter is expected to be delivered "soon."

Supreme Leader Weighs In

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reiterated that Tehran would not negotiate with the U.S. whilst being threatened. Recently, he called talks with Washington neither "smart, wise, nor honorable." Khamenei's stance reflects Tehran's longstanding position that sanctions must be lifted before any talks can resume.

Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash attends World Government Summit at the Dubai Expo 2020, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo

What People Are Saying

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters: President Trump's letter "will soon be delivered to Tehran by an Arab country."

President Donald Trump said: "We don't want to be tough on Iran. We don't want to be tough on anybody. But they just can't have a nuclear bomb."

Negar Mortazavi, Senior Fellow, Center for International Policy told Newsweek: "It's good that the letter was actually sent and that Iran acknowledges it too. This is the first step towards diplomacy. Now the ball is in Iran's court and they need to show if they are serious about negotiating with Trump."

What Happens Next

Iran's response to Trump's letter and the outcome of the UAE envoy's visit could influence the next steps in regional diplomacy. Meanwhile, Tehran is set to hold a trilateral meeting with China and Russia in Beijing on Friday, where its nuclear program and broader geopolitical issues will be discussed. With U.S. sanctions and military threats still in play, tensions are likely to persist as both sides seek strategic advantages.