Iran says it has replied to Trump's letter and is ready for indirect talks

Washington sent letter to Iranian leadership this month expressing interest in restarting negotiations

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said 'indirect negotiations can continue, as they existed in the past'. AFP

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Tehran has replied to US President Donald Trump's letter, paving the way for talks on its nuclear programme and Middle East policies.

Both sides have been laying the groundwork for the long-anticipated talks over recent weeks, at a time when Iran’s regional influence has waned. The potential negotiations carry particular weight for the region at a time of conflict and heightened tension.

Mr Trump has said he wants to negotiate with Iran rather than resort to military means, as he seeks to limit Tehran's nuclear programme. After relaunching his “maximum pressure” campaign, the US President sent a letter to Iran's leadership, urging Tehran to negotiate a new nuclear deal. The letter was delivered this month by Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, during a visit to Tehran.

Mr Araghchi stated that the response to Mr Trump's letter has been sent through Oman, a frequent diplomatic go-between. He told local media that Iran is seeking to resume indirect negotiations.

“Indirect negotiations … can continue, as they existed in the past,” he said, adding that Iran's response was made with “a responsible view and in adherence to diplomatic custom”.

In 2015, the US and other world powers signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement with Iran that put limits on Tehran's nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief. The US has accused Iran of trying to develop a nuclear weapon, but Tehran has always maintained that its programme is for peaceful purposes. Mr Trump withdrew the US from the deal in 2018, during his first term, citing security concerns.

A currency exchange board in Tehran. The value of the Iranian rial has fallen below 1 million to the dollar. Reuters

While Iran denies seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, it is “dramatically” accelerating enrichment of uranium to 60 per cent purity – a short step from the 90 per cent-purity needed for nuclear weapons, the International Atomic Energy Agency has warned.

Last week, Mr Araghchi said he believed it was no longer possible to revive the 2015 nuclear deal and that attempting to do so would not serve Iran's interests.

Mr Araghchi, who was among Iran's negotiators who agreed on the JCPOA, said the agreement could not be revived in the same format because of advances in Tehran's nuclear development and increased US sanctions. However, he suggested the deal could serve as a base for a potential agreement in the future.

In recent weeks, the US has continued to pile sanctions on Iran, with Mr Trump's originally stated goal being to drive the country's oil exports to near zero. The Iranian rial fell below 1 million to the US dollar this week. The currency has more than halved in value since President Masoud Pezeshkian took office last year.

News of the talks comes at a time when Iran has faced setbacks in the Middle East, with a series of blows to its key allies. Hamas is still being targeted by Israel in the war in Gaza, Lebanon's Hezbollah has been significantly weakened in its war with Israel, former Syrian president Bashar Al Assad was overthrown in December, while in Yemen, Houthi rebels have faced renewed US air strikes.

Mr Araghchi acknowledged that Iran is experiencing its most challenging period since the eight-year war with Iraq in the 1980s but vowed that the country would make a strong comeback, armed with “invaluable experience” from recent events.