On Sunday, Iran declared that it would engage in talks with the United States, provided that the discussions would only address issues related to the militarisation of its nuclear program.

“If the objective of negotiations is to address concerns vis a vis any potential militarisation of Iran's nuclear program, such discussions may be subject to consideration,” said Iran’s UN mission in a statement on X. Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, had rejected US-Iranian negotiations a day earlier, claiming they would be used to limit Iran's missile program and regional influence.

Khamenei's statement came a day after President Donald Trump admitted that he had sent a letter to him, proposing a new agreement with Tehran to control its fast-growing nuclear program. This new deal was meant to replace the previous nuclear agreement that Trump had withdrawn the U.S. from during his first term. According to Khamenei, US demands would be military-related and tied to Iran's regional sway. Such discussions, he argued, will not resolve the issues between Iran and the West. Trump's move comes as both Israel and the U.S. have vowed never to let Iran develop a nuclear weapon. This has raised fears of a possible military conflict since Iran is enriching uranium close to weapons-grade levels, something usually done by countries with nuclear arms. 

Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, though its leaders have increasingly hinted at pursuing nuclear weapons. Tensions remain high with the U.S. due to sanctions and with Israel, as a fragile ceasefire continues in the Gaza war against Hamas. Iran's statement on Sunday emphasised that Tehran will not compromise on its peaceful nuclear program, even as it permitted discussions on worries over militarisation. “However, should the aim be the dismantlement of Iran's peaceful nuclear program to claim that what Obama failed to achieve has now been accomplished, such negotiations will never take place,” Iran's mission said.