President Donald Trump has announced that he sent a letter to the Islamic Republic of Iran to negotiate a nuclear deal that would put the brakes on the Middle Eastern nation getting hold of nuclear weapons.
According to USA Today, during an interview with Fox Business on Friday, Trump gave details on the contents of the letter, in which he said it would be better for Iran to negotiate.
“I said I hope you’re going to negotiate, because it’s going to be a lot better for Iran,” Trump told Fox Business. “I think they want to get that letter. The other alternative is we have to do something, because you can’t let another nuclear weapon.”
USA Today further reported that Iran is yet to receive the letter, while Iran’s Nour News allegedly dismissed the letter as a “repetitive show” by Washington.
“There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal,” Trump said. “I would prefer to make a deal, because I’m not looking to hurt Iran. They’re great people.”
While Iran denies that it is seeking nuclear weapons, Western officials are concerned that a nuclear-armed Iran could pose a real threat to Israel, Gulf Arab oil producers, as well as spark a regional arms race.
In 2018 during Trump’s first term, the Trump administration pulled out of a multinational agreement to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
A source told Reuters Tuesday that Russia has offered to mediate between the U.S. and Iran, which is part of the effort of the Kremlin’s promise to do everything possible to facilitate a peaceful outcome.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov reportedly had a discussion around international efforts to resolve the tension concerning Iran’s nuclear interests with Iranian ambassador Kazem Jalali on Friday.
In December, Britain, France, and Germany informed the United Nations Security Council that they are ready to trigger any international sanctions necessary to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons.
