US President Donald Trump has sent a message to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, seeking a new deal with Tehran to curb its fast-growing nuclear programme and replace the previous agreement he pulled America out of during his first term.
Iranian state media immediately responded to Mr. Trump's admission, made in segments of an interview on Fox Business News that aired on Friday.
However, there was no confirmation from Mr. Khamenei's office that any letter had been received.
The full interview is expected to air on Sunday.
It also remained unclear how the 85-year-old supreme leader would react, given that former US President Barack Obama kept his letters to Mr Khamenei secret before negotiations on Tehran's deal with world powers began in 2015.
Mr Trump's admission came as Israel and the US said they would never allow Iran to have nuclear weapons, raising fears of a military confrontation as Tehran enriches uranium to near-weapons-grade levels – a purity sought only by nuclear powers.
“I wrote them a letter and said, ‘I hope you will agree to negotiate, because if we have to intervene militarily, it would be terrible,’” Mr. Trump said.
He later added in an interview recorded on Thursday that he sent the letter “yesterday.”
– Trump’s actions come amid tensions
The White House backed up Trump's comments, saying he had sent a letter to Iranian leaders to begin talks on a nuclear deal.
“I would prefer to reach an agreement. I'm not sure that everyone agrees with me, but we can reach a deal that would be as good as if you had won a military victory,” Mr. Trump added.
“But the time has come. The time is approaching. Something will happen one way or another.
“I hope you will agree to negotiate because it will be much better for Iran and I think they want to get this letter.
“The other alternative is that we have to do something because we can't allow them to have nuclear weapons.”
Iran has long maintained that its program has peaceful purposes, although its officials have increasingly threatened to develop the bomb amid high tensions with the United States over sanctions and with Israel over an unstable ceasefire in the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Since Mr. Trump's return to the White House, his administration has consistently argued
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
