Donald Trump's letter to Ali Khamenei

Donald Trump

Ali Khamenei

Donald Trump's letter to Ali Khamenei began communication between U.S. president Donald Trump and Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei to initiate new nuclear talks. Trump announced the existence of the letter in an interview with Fox Business on March 7, 2025. Ali Khamenei responded by stating that the United States' goal is not to resolve the issue, but rather to pursue dominance.

Iran initially rejected talks with the U.S., prompting Trump to threaten unprecedented bombing. Khamenei responded with threats against Israel and the U.S., while an Iranian general warned U.S. troops in the region.

By the month's end, the Iranian leadership sent a reply to the letter expressing readiness for nuclear negotiations. Iran and the U.S. began talks in April.

Background

In 2015, during President Obama's administration, negotiations took place between Iran and the United States under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The JCPOA imposed limitations on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. However, in 2018, during the first term of President Trump's administration, the United States withdrew from this agreement. Iran continued to comply with its commitments for one year following the U.S. withdrawal.

Trump's letter

On March 7, Trump announced that he had written a letter to Ali Khamenei, expressing his desire to initiate new nuclear talks. He warned that if Iran did not accept this proposal, it could face a potential military threat. He stated that a military option would have severe consequences for Iran. Trump attempted to initiate new negotiations with Iran. However, he also imposed additional sanctions on the country and pledged to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero. Khamenei did not acknowledge the letter, indicating that Iran would not meet the new expectations.

According to Iranian media, the unofficial contents of the letter were reported by Emirati political science academic Abdulkhaleq Abdulla and included demands such as:

1. Full dismantling of the Iranian nuclear program
2. Full stopping of nuclear enrichment
3. Stopping arming and supplying Houthis
4. Stopping funding Hezbollah
5. Disbanding Hashd-al-Shabi PMF (Popular Mobilization Forces) groups
6. Compliance within 2 months of these requests
7. United States would then lift the sanctions and end Iranian isolation
8. In case of no negotiations there will be military strikes
9. Recommendation that the negotiations take place in the Emirates

Iranian response and negotiations

On March 8, 2025, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that while they had heard about the existence of the letter, they had not yet received it. He added that Iran would be willing to negotiate if the United States refrained from applying "maximum pressure" on the country. Later, Khamenei described Trump's threats as "bullying tactics". He said that he did not consider Trump the right person to conduct this correspondence. However, on March 22, Steve Witkoff claimed Iran had responded and agreed to start negotiations. On March 27, Iran wrote another letter back to Trump, according to a Khamenei aide. The aide as well as Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi rejected direct talks as long as Trump was making military threats and continuing a campaign of "maximal pressure" against Iran, but expressed readiness for continued indirect negotiation through the mediation of Oman. On March 30, Trump threatened Iran with "bombing like never seen before" if no deal is reached. The next day, Khamenei threatened the United States not to attack Iran militarily, although he assessed military intervention to be highly unlikely. He also called for the unity of all Islamic countries against what he characterized as aggression and oppression by outside powers, and reiterated Iran's longstanding position that Zionism "must be eliminated from Palestine and the region, and by the grace and power of God, this will happen". IRGCAF General Hajizadeh also threatened US troops in the Middle East.

By the end of March, the Iranian leadership sent a reply to the letter expressing readiness for nuclear negotiations. Iran and the U.S. began talks on April 12. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff briefly met and conversed in Oman, marking the first direct diplomatic interaction between Iran and the U.S. since the 2010s. The negotiations between the US and Iran have since continued.

Reactions

Le Monde argued that Khamenei was the main obstacle to negotiations.

US deployed two aircraft carriers. IRGC were deployed along with missile systems to tritary islands of Persian Gulf and Strait of Hurmuz, and IRGC head commander Gen. Hossein Salami warned the US not to attack, threatening a devastating response.

The United Nations commented on Trump's communication with Iran. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said, "As a matter of principle, we reaffirm that diplomacy remains the best way to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme".

Two weeks after sending the letter, Trump issued a warning to Iran on social media regarding its support for Yemen and other groups. On March 16, 2025, the United States conducted an airstrike in Yemen to safeguard its shipping fleet.

See also

• Iran–United States relations
• Correspondence between Barack Obama and Ali Khamenei