Donald Trump reaches out to Iran for nuclear talks: 'Hope you're going to negotiate’

US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran, revealing that he sent a letter to the country’s leadership urging them to engage in talks.

"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 Business Network aired on Friday.

Warning against nuclear weapons

Trump emphasised the urgency of addressing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, suggesting that alternative actions might be necessary if talks fail.

"I think they want to get that letter. The other alternative is we have to do something, because you can't let another nuclear weapon," he added.

Letter likely addressed to Khamenei

The letter appeared to be directed to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, the White House did not immediately confirm details regarding its contents or recipient.

Russia engages in diplomatic efforts

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov met with Iranian Ambassador Kazem Jalali to discuss international efforts to resolve the situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday.

JCPOA: The 2015 nuclear deal

The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) placed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the deal unraveled after Donald Trump withdrew the US from the agreement in 2018 during his first term as president.

Iran’s compliance and rollback

Iran initially complied with the accord but began rolling back its commitments a year after the US exit. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has reinstated his "maximum pressure" sanctions on Tehran, citing concerns that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons—a claim Iran has consistently denied while expressing willingness to revive the deal.

Stalled efforts to restore the deal

Efforts to restore the JCPOA have stalled, and last month, UN atomic agency chief Rafael Grossi warned that Iran is enriching uranium at 60 percent—close to weapons-grade levels. He described the 2015 agreement as an "empty shell" that is "no longer fit for purpose."

(With AFP inputs)