Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump said he sent the letter on Wednesday seeking to negotiate a nuclear deal that would “be just as good if you won militarily”
Donald Trump shares insight into communications with Iran
Donald Trump has told Iranian leaders to launch high-level nuclear negotiations in a letter appearing to threaten the nation with military action.
The US President said he wrote to Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei telling him he hoped they were “going to negotiate” because, if they didn’t, his administration “might have to go in militarily”. He told Fox News interviewers that it would be a “terrible thing” to take action, adding he could make a deal that would provide results “just as good as if you won militarily”.
He said in an interview, which was filmed on Thursday but is due to be televised over the weekend: “I’ve written them a letter saying, ‘I hope you’re going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing. He later added that he had sent the letter “yesterday” in the interview.
The White House confirmed Trump’s comments, saying that he sent a letter to Iran’s leaders seeking to negotiate a nuclear deal. The correspondence, he added, also threatened that “time is coming up” for the two nations, with something likely “to happen one way or the other”.
The letter continues: “I would rather negotiate a deal. I’m not sure that everybody agrees with me, but we can make a deal that would be just as good as if you won militarily. But the time is happening now. The time is coming up. Something’s going to happen one way or the other.”
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported on Trump’s comments, citing the broadcast. However, there was no immediate word from the office of the 85-year-old Khamenei, who has final say over all matters of state. Speaking in the Fox interview, Mr Trump said there were “two ways Iran could be handled”, which he said were “either militarily or economically”.
Speaking in the same vein as he has about the Russia-Ukraine war, the President said he would “prefer to make a deal”, calling Iranians “great people”. The President has spoken similarly about Russia, notably the country’s oligarchs, saying in late February that some could even become US citizens.
Floating a “gold card” visa programme on February 26 that would cost $5 million (£3.86 million) per application, Mr Trump said from the Oval Office: “Hey, I know some Russian oligarchs that are very nice people.” He added: “They are not as wealthy as they used to be; I think they can afford $5 million.”