Iran will not engage in direct talks with the United States over its nuclear program, President Masoud Pezeshkian announced today. Mr Pezeshkian commented on a letter sent by US President Donald Trump to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, saying Iran’s response, delivered via Oman, opened the door to indirect negotiations with Washington. However, such talks have stalled since President Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from Tehran’s nuclear deal with other powers in 2018.

The Iranian president told a cabinet meeting: “We don’t avoid talks; it’s the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far. “They must prove that they can build trust.” In the years since Mr Trump ended the deal with Iran, regional tensions have boiled over into attacks at sea and on land. Then came the Israel’s brutal military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and its war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, both groups being members of Iran’s Axis of Resistance

In recent weeks, the US has conducted intensive air strikes targeting the Houthi-led government of Yemen. Washington accuses Iran of providing direct support for Yemeni forces’ attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. Yemen says its actions in the Red Sea are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza under attack by Israel. The White House gave no immediate reaction to the announcement