Trump says he sent letter to Iran leader to negotiate nuclear deal

Russian diplomat has also discussed nuclear issue with Iranian ambassador

US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office, on the day he signs executive orders, at the White House in Washington, DC, US Mar 6, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo

US President Donald Trump said he wants to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran and sent a letter to its leadership on Thursday saying he hoped they would agree to talk.

"I said I hope you're going to negotiate, because it's going to be a lot better for Iran," Trump said in the interview with Fox Business Network broadcast Friday.

"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."

The letter appeared to have been addressed to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The White House did not immediately respond to a request about that.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov discussed international efforts to resolve the situation around Iran's nuclear programme with Iranian ambassador Kazem Jalali, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.