Tensions Rise Between Iran and the US Over Nuclear Deal Talks

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dismissed calls for negotiations from what he called “bully states.” His comments came after former U.S. President Donald Trump said he preferred a deal over military action to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Speaking on a U.S. news network, Trump said he “hopes Iran will negotiate. It’s better for them. The alternative is unacceptable—letting them have a nuclear weapon.” He claimed to have written a letter to Khamenei, but it remains unclear if it was received. Khamenei responded indirectly, rejecting the notion of talks.

“The insistence on negotiations is not to resolve issues but to dominate others,” Khamenei stated during a meeting in Tehran with government leaders. “The Islamic Republic of Iran will not accept their demands.“

The Long-Running US-Iran Standoff

Since 2018, tensions have been high between the two nations. Trump’s administration withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal that restricted Iran’s uranium enrichment activities in exchange for sanctions relief. The move led to economic pressures and political isolation for Iran.

The situation worsened when Trump ordered the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in 2020. Relations between the two nations hit rock bottom. Trump returned to power, reviving his “maximum pressure” campaign, aiming to isolate Iran economically and diplomatically.

Meanwhile, Russia offered to mediate in nuclear talks between the US and Iran. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed this during a meeting in Saudi Arabia. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful, but global powers remain skeptical.

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