Iran Rejects Direct Negotiations With US Over New Nuclear Deal

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that Tehran had rejected direct negotiations with Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump penned a letter to the regime pushing for fresh talks on a nuclear deal.

Why It Matters

Trump said earlier this month he had reached out to Tehran and expressed his hope that its senior officials would negotiate with the U.S. on Iran's nuclear program.

"If we have to go in militarily," the Republican president said, "it's going to be a terrible thing for them."

Iran says its nuclear development, which had been curbed by now-lapsed restrictions, is peaceful and not intended to make weapons. But Iranian officials have in recent months publicly floated whether Tehran should abandon this track, and analysts say it would not be difficult for Iran to take the final step toward weaponizing its burgeoning nuclear program.

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