TEHRAN, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran will respond in the coming days to a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump seeking talks on Tehran's nuclear program, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday, while ruling out direct negotiations under sanctions.
In a televised interview, Araghchi said the letter, delivered via the United Arab Emirates on March 12, was under review.
"The response will be sent through appropriate channels and will not take long," he said, adding that Tehran was weighing both the "threats" and "potential opportunities" outlined in the message.
Trump confirmed on March 7 that he had sent the letter a day earlier, expressing a desire to negotiate with Iran.
Araghchi noted the letter "was more like a threat" but said it contained proposals that required evaluation. "We are paying attention to all its points," he said.
He reiterated Iran's position that it would not engage in direct talks while under U.S. pressure.
"Our policy is clear: We will not negotiate directly under sanctions and coercion," Araghchi said, emphasizing that any discussions must take place "under equal circumstances."
The 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), granted Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. The agreement has been in jeopardy since the U.S. withdrew in 2018 under Trump and reimposed sanctions. Tehran has since scaled back its compliance but insists its nuclear activities remain peaceful. ■
