Iran, US tensions up as Trump sends letter to Khamenei

Donald Trump and Ayatullah Khamenei_11zon

Dhaka, Mar 14 - A letter from U.S. President Donald Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has arrived in Tehran, aiming to revive talks over Iran’s advancing nuclear program.

Though the contents of the letter remain undisclosed, its arrival coincides with Trump imposing new sanctions as part of his “maximum pressure” strategy. While keeping military action on the table, he has also expressed confidence in the possibility of a new agreement.

Khamenei, 85, has publicly dismissed Trump, but Iranian officials have sent mixed signals on the prospect of negotiations.

Why Did Trump Send the Letter?

Trump confirmed in a televised interview on March 6 that he had written to Khamenei, stating, “I hope you’re going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing.” Since returning to office, he has pushed for dialogue while simultaneously increasing sanctions and hinting at a potential military strike by the U.S. or Israel on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

This is not the first time Trump has reached out to Khamenei—his earlier letter during his first term was met with a harsh rebuke. However, he successfully initiated direct talks with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un through a similar approach, though no formal agreement was reached.

Iran’s Response: Mixed Signals

Iran’s reaction has been contradictory. Khamenei has rejected talks with what he calls a “bullying government.” Yet, Iranian diplomats, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, previously suggested discussions on security guarantees could be possible. However, Araghchi later hardened his stance, stating negotiations would not happen under U.S. pressure—aligning with Khamenei’s position.

Despite this, Araghchi met with the Emirati diplomat who delivered Trump’s letter. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned envoys from France, Germany, and the U.K. to protest their support for a U.N. Security Council meeting on Iran’s nuclear program.

Why Is Iran’s Nuclear Program a Concern?

Iran has long insisted its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes. However, recent threats to pursue nuclear weapons have raised alarm. Iran is currently enriching uranium to 60% purity—dangerously close to weapons-grade—making it the only country without a declared nuclear weapons program to do so.

Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was limited to enriching uranium up to 3.67% purity with a stockpile cap of 300 kilograms (661 pounds). The latest International Atomic Energy Agency report states Iran now has a stockpile of 8,294.4 kilograms (18,286 pounds), with some enriched at 60%.

U.S. intelligence agencies have not confirmed that Iran has begun an official weapons program but acknowledge Tehran is positioning itself to develop a nuclear device if it chooses.

The Longstanding U.S.-Iran Rivalry

Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran was a key U.S. ally under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, purchasing American military equipment and hosting CIA surveillance operations against the Soviet Union. The CIA-backed 1953 coup helped solidify the shah’s power.

However, the shah fled Iran in January 1979 amid mass protests. The revolution, led by Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, established Iran’s theocratic government. Later that year, Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, demanding the shah’s extradition, sparking the 444-day hostage crisis that severed diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Tensions escalated further during the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, when the U.S. supported Saddam Hussein. This period included the “Tanker War,” where the U.S. launched a major attack on Iran’s navy and later mistakenly shot down an Iranian passenger plane.

Relations have since fluctuated between hostility and cautious diplomacy, peaking with the 2015 nuclear deal. However, Trump’s unilateral withdrawal from the accord in 2018 reignited hostilities—tensions that continue to shape the Middle East today. - UNB