Iranian leader says he won't accept demands by "bully countries" after Trump claim

by Barak Ravid

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that his country will not accept the demands of "bullying countries".

Why it matters: Khamenei's comment seemed to refer to President Trump's claim he sent a letter to the Iranian leader about a possible nuclear deal.

• Khamenei didn't mention Trump by name and didn't confirm he received a letter from the U.S. president.

What they are saying: "Some bullying countries insist on talks not to resolve issues but to impose their demands...we will certainly not accept their demands", the Iranian leader said in a meeting with senior officials.

• Khamenei said Iran will not accept demands to cap Iran's defensive capabilities by limiting the production of weapons or its missiles' range.

• He also said Iran won't agree to demands to cut ties with other groups in the region.

Driving the news: President Trump said an interview with Fox Business Maria Bartiromo that will air in full on Sunday that 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.

• The president told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday that the coming days "will be interesting" when it comes to Iran.

• "We are down to final strokes with Iran. We are down to the final moments. 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," he said.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional statements.

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

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.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday that the coming days "will be interesting" when it comes to Iran.

• "We are down to final strokes with Iran. We are down to the final moments. 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," he said.

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.

Editor's note: This story was corrected to reflect that the letter was sent Wednesday (not Thursday). It was later updated to reflect President Trump's remarks in the Oval Office.