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US President Donald Trump said that he has written a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Although Khamenei has not confirmed it yet, this has focused the world’s attention on Tehran’s nuclear program. Iran is rapidly advancing its nuclear program. Trump has mentioned this in his letter. Trump said this in an interview on Fox Business News on Friday. The full interview has not been revealed yet. It will be aired on Sunday.
Trump’s statement has come at a time when both Israel and the US have made it clear that they will never allow Iran to make nuclear weapons, raising the possibility of a military confrontation. Tehran is collecting uranium on a large scale, which is allowed only to countries that have nuclear weapons.
There will be trouble if you proceed with the military
In an interview recorded on Thursday, Trump said, “I wrote them a letter yesterday that said, ‘I hope you will negotiate because if we have to proceed militarily, it will be a terrible thing.'” The White House confirmed Trump’s comments, saying he has sent a letter to Iran’s leaders to negotiate a nuclear deal. “I would love to negotiate a deal. I’m not sure everybody will agree with me, but we can make a deal that will be just as good as winning militarily,” Trump said. “But the time has come. The time is coming. One way or another, something is going to happen.”
Opposition to Iran’s nuclear program
“I hope you will negotiate because it will be much better for Iran and I think they want to get that letter,” Trump said. “The other option is that we have to do something because you can’t let them have nuclear weapons.” Since Trump returned to the White House, his administration has consistently said Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons. However, a report by the UN nuclear watchdog last month said Iran had accelerated its production of weapons-grade uranium.
Iran tensions with US-Israel
Iran has long maintained its programme is for peaceful purposes, while its officials have repeatedly threatened to build a bomb as tensions with the US over its sanctions and with Israel over a shaky ceasefire in the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip remain tense. Last August, Khamenei opened the door to dialogue with the US in a speech, saying there was “no harm” in negotiating with the “enemy”. However, he recently softened his tone, saying negotiations with the US were “not wise, intelligent or honourable” after Trump offered nuclear talks with Tehran.
Trump withdrew the nuclear deal in 2018
The first phase of Trump’s term was particularly troubled in relations with Iran. In 2018, he unilaterally withdrew the US from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, leading to sanctions on the economy and ordering the killing of the country’s top general. Under the original 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was only allowed to enrich uranium up to 3.67% purity and maintain a stockpile of 300 kg of uranium. (Input- AP)
