No negotiations under threat

Iran’s clear policy toward Trump

Interview

US President Donald trump speaks before signing executive orders in the Oval office in the White House in washinton DC. on March 6, 2025

In analyzing Tehran’s approach to Washington, the geopolitical expert states, First, Iran must understand the White House’s demands and whether its media threats will persist in closed-door negotiations. US President Donald Trump claimed in an interview with Fox last Wednesday that he had sent a letter to Iran’s Leader ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei reiterating his priority to negotiate and reach a deal with Iran on its nuclear program. This comes despite his recent executive order doubling down on the “maximum pressure” policy against Tehran, including refusing to extend Iraq’s sanctions waiver for electricity imports from Iran. In response to the US president’s contradictory rhetoric, the Islamic Republic has declared it will not engage in direct talks while Washington combines maximum pressure with a coercive facade of diplomacy.

Abdolreza faraji-rad

Abdolreza Faraji-Rad, a former diplomat and geopolitical analyst, in an interview with IRNA, addressed Trump’s claims of sending a letter to Iran’s leadership and whether this indicates a shift in US policy.  He elaborated on Trump’s statements and actions since returning to the White House, stating:  

Trump is in a hurry to advance his agenda, which extends beyond Iran — Ukraine, Middle East issues, strategic matters like the Panama Canal and Greenland, and economic policies such as tariffs all demand his urgent attention. Regarding Iran, after a brief lull following his executive order, Trump revived the topic in his Business Fox interview. Despite no direct question about Iran, he emphasized his desire for a deal and mentioned the letter to Iran’s Leader.  
In the interview with Fox host Maria Bartiromo for “Sunday Morning Futures,” Trump said, “I’ve written them a letter saying, ‘I hope you’re going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing.’”
The White House confirmed that Trump’s letter to Iran’s leaders is seeking to negotiate a nuclear deal. The president’s comments in the Oval Office echoed his sentiments from the interview, in which he said the letter had been sent Wednesday.
“I would rather negotiate a deal. I’m not sure that everybody agrees with me, but we can make a deal that would be just as good as if you won militarily,” Trump said in the interview. “But the time is happening now. The time is coming up. Something’s going to happen one way or the other.”
Trump likely assumes the Ukraine issue is “on track,” freeing him to focus on Iran. A letter may have been sent through diplomatic channels. While Trump claims dialogue is his priority, he has also threatened military action if Iran refuses to negotiate. However, I believe his letter or negotiation terms would be milder than his public threats, as he tends to project strength publicly.  

An Iranian flag at Bushehr nuclear power plant

The letter’s content must be scrutinized, but Iran’s response will remain firm: no talks under threat. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently reiterated that Tehran will not engage unless Trump suspends his maximum pressure policy — a step he has yet to take.  
On whether a post-October 2025 agreement could prevent the snapback mechanism’s activation without US involvement: Negotiating with the remaining Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) parties (1+4) could yield solutions, such as Iran reducing enrichment levels or uranium stockpiles. The core issue remains US unilateral sanctions, which severely strain Iran’s economy. Without resolving this, Trump’s renewed pressure policy will persist. Tighter sanctions will further slash the country’s oil exports, especially if tankers are blocked.  
Effective sanctions relief requires dialogue — even indirect — with the US. A trial dialogue would be more productive than media exchanges. Talks with China, Russia, or European JCPOA members alone cannot resolve the country’s economic challenges.  
Regarding Russia-mediated talks, Iran has a history of successful dialogue with the US, resulting in the JCPOA. Channels like Oman and Switzerland previously facilitated communication. Crucially, Iran must first discern the White House’s true intentions: Are its public threats mere posturing, or will they resurface behind closed doors? Many internationally argue that direct, high-level engagement is the only way to secure concessions from Trump.  

The full article first appeared in Persian on IRNA.