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'No trust, no talks': Iran rejects direct talks with US over nuclear program despite Trump’s warnings

'No trust, no talks': Iran rejects direct talks with US over nuclear program despite Trump’s warnings

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World: On Friday, Trump had warned Iran, saying that "bad things" would happen to the nation if it fails to reach a nuclear deal.  Middle East

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced on Sunday (March 30) that Tehran has refused to hold direct talks with the United States over its nuclear programme. This marks the country's first public response to a letter sent by US President Donald Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader.

According to Pezeshkian, the Iranian reply, delivered through Oman, did not shut down the possibility of indirect discussions with Washington.

Pezeshkian acknowledged that no progress has been made in talks since Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018.

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“We don’t avoid talks; it’s the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far,” Pezeshkian said in a televised speech. “They must prove that they can build trust,” he said.

On Friday, Trump had warned Iran, saying that "bad things" would happen to the nation if it fails to reach a nuclear deal.

"My big preference... is we work it out with Iran. But if we don't work it out, bad, bad things are gonna happen to Iran," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

The US and Israel have both warned that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

These warnings have grown stronger as Iran continues to enrich uranium close to weapons-grade levels, a process typically undertaken only by nuclear-armed states.

Iran has always claimed its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes. Still, some Iranian officials have increasingly hinted at the possibility of developing nuclear weapons.

The tensions between Iran and the US have been high lately afterthe first US strikes on Yemen since President Donald Trump took office.

The US said that several top Houthi officials were killed in its strikes on Yemen, whereas the Houthi-run health ministry said the strikes claimed the lives of 53 people and injured approximately 100.

Moreover, the US president also threatened to "annihilate" Houthis and warned Iran against continuing with its aid to the group amid an ongoing US military campaign against them. Since then, Houthi and the US have been exchanging fire.

(With inputs from agencies)

About the Author

Prapti Upadhayay

Prapti Upadhayay is a New Delhi-based journalist who reports on key news developments across India and global affairs, with a special focus on US politics. When not writing, she en...Read More