WANA (Mar 08) – Donald Trump told Fox Business that on Thursday, he had written a letter addressed to Iran’s Supreme Leader. He stated, “I hope you will negotiate because this would be much better for Iran.” At the same time, he added, “They want to receive this letter. The alternative is that we take action because Iran cannot have nuclear weapons.”

 

However, Iran’s mission to the United Nations responded by saying, “We have not received such a letter so far.”

 

The use of the phrase “so far” suggests that the existence of the letter has not been outright denied. Meanwhile, an American official told Al Jazeera that Trump had written the letter but had not yet sent it.

 

Publicizing the letter before sending it carries significant implications and could be considered one of the rare instances in diplomatic history where a country’s highest-ranking official discloses the content of a letter to another nation’s leader before it is even delivered. This is yet another example of Trump’s unconventional approach.

Revealing the letter in this manner indicates, above all, that media optics are a key priority for Trump when handling various issues. It also suggests that, as with the Ukraine crisis, he is eager to reach a swift resolution on Iran. What matters most to him is achieving his desired outcome as quickly as possible—even if it means writing a letter after Iran has already rejected negotiations.

 

The key question now is whether the letter will reach its intended recipient and, if it does, how it will be received. Will it be met with the same response as Trump’s 2019 message, which was delivered through former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe? Another crucial aspect is the content of the letter. Is it, as Trump described in his Fox Business interview, a mix of incentives and threats—offering a deal or warning of military action?

 

In any case, it seems unlikely that Trump’s new letter will receive serious attention from Iranian decision-makers.

 

The reality is that Trump’s top priority is negotiation and agreement, but only on his own terms. If that were not the case, he would have immediately moved to the next step. His personality and mindset are not those of a leader who engages in prolonged diplomatic maneuvering merely to set the stage for another course of action.

 

Shinzo Abe’s 2019 meeting with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution

An Account of Shinzo Abe’s Visit to Tehran in 2019 and Trump’s Message

WANA (Mar 01) – The political advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader shared an account of the visit of Japan’s former Prime Minister to Iran and his meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei.   Ali Shamkhani, in a post on his social media account on X, shared a photo of Shinzo Abe’s 2019 meeting with the Leader of […]

Read More...

 

To achieve this goal, Trump is simultaneously applying maximum pressure—threatening to reduce Iran’s oil exports to zero and halt its oil shipments—while pushing for negotiations to begin as soon as possible. Among the various channels he might use to facilitate talks, his primary bet, at least for now, appears to be on Vladimir Putin and Russia.

 

It would not be surprising if Putin, as part of a broader deal with Trump, takes a serious role in breaking the deadlock on international issues, including Iran’s nuclear file. In this context, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov’s emphasis on the need for U.S.-Iran negotiations, despite Tehran’s opposition, is worth noting.

 

Overall, Russia’s mediation efforts seem to be gaining momentum. Today’s meeting between Iran’s ambassador to Russia and Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov can also be seen in this light.

 

However, Putin’s role as a mediator between Tehran and Washington is closely linked to the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin, wary of Trump’s unpredictable shifts, is unlikely to fully commit to brokering U.S.-Iran talks until it secures clear assurances that the war will conclude in a way that benefits Russia and guarantees Trump’s positions can be turned into tangible gains.