A few days ago, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed in a television interview that he had sent a message to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. While the contents of Trump’s message to Khamenei were not disclosed, the U.S. President stated: “I wrote them a letter, saying, I hope you will negotiate because our military intervention would be something terrible.”
The details of Trump’s message were not published, and Iranian officials continued to deny for several days that Tehran had received any letter from Trump. However, the Iranian mission to the United Nations later revealed that the message had indeed been received. On March 10, 2025, the mission confirmed that Trump’s letter had been delivered to Khamenei in Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi later stated that it was the United Arab Emirates that had facilitated the delivery of Trump’s message to Tehran.
“Arabi Post” contacted Iranian sources from the Supreme Leader’s office and others close to the Iranian president, revealing the content of Trump’s letter to Khamenei, Iran’s response, and the role played by Russian President Vladimir Putin in persuading Iranian leaders to engage in direct communication with Trump.
Content of Trump’s Message to Khamenei
Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic advisor to the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, was tasked with sending Trump’s message to Khamenei several days after Trump publicly announced he had sent the letter to Tehran’s officials.
The UAE’s involvement as a mediator between Tehran and Washington was unexpected, as Oman had traditionally been the trusted intermediary in any negotiations between Iran and the United States for many years. However, an Iranian government official explained to “Arabi Post” that “the Omanis refused to handle Trump’s letter because it contained a strong and direct threat to Tehran, something the Omanis did not wish to be involved in. Nevertheless, we have no objection to the UAE’s mediation.”
As for the contents of Trump’s letter to Khamenei, the same source stated, “The letter was essentially a call for direct negotiations between the two countries. I see it as a positive invitation, but it also sparked significant internal disagreement within the ruling establishment in Tehran.”
According to three matching sources who spoke to “Arabi Post,” the key demands in Trump’s letter were as follows:
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- Direct communication between Trump and Khamenei, followed by discussions with Khamenei or Iranian Prime Minister Masoud Pezeshkian on all bilateral issues.
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- Strong guarantees from Khamenei regarding the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.
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- A halt to Iran’s threats against Israel and the targeting of American interests and assets in the region.
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- The lifting of some economic sanctions imposed on Tehran if an agreement is reached on the above points, with some sanctions suspended after the reopening of embassies and the restoration of diplomatic relations, severed since 1979.
In this context, a source from Khamenei’s office, familiar with the message, told “Arabi Post”: “Trump placed significant emphasis on the necessity of a public and direct connection between him and Khamenei.”
The source added that Trump “also stressed that dismantling Iran’s nuclear program entirely would be the best guarantee Iran could offer Washington regarding the peaceful nature of its nuclear ambitions, with the Americans ready to help Iran build a peaceful nuclear program under their supervision.”
Additionally, the source explained that Trump’s letter mentioned that American businessmen were fully prepared to help revitalize the Iranian economy if a final agreement was reached between the two countries.
Trump’s Demands Less Harsh This Time
Sources familiar with the contents of Trump’s letter to Tehran indicated that Trump had softened some of the demands he had previously sent to Iran earlier this year through Arab intermediaries.
According to these sources, Trump had earlier asked Iran not only to negotiate on its nuclear program but also on its ballistic missile program, the sale of drones produced by Iran, and to dismantle its relations entirely with other members of the “Resistance Axis.”
The source from Khamenei’s office told “Arabi Post”: “When Trump made these demands shortly after taking office, the Supreme Leader firmly rejected them, saying that through these demands, Trump sought to force Iran into full submission to the Americans. Khamenei repeatedly stated that there would be no negotiations with Washington.”
The source continued: “However, it seems that after Russian contacts with Trump, they convinced him to moderate his demands, limiting the negotiations to Iran’s nuclear program and excluding everything else.”
Iranian Response
According to Iranian sources familiar with the matter, Tehran sent its response to Trump’s message in the past few days. The Iranian reply included several conditions for starting negotiations.
Four Iranian officials close to decision-making centers in Tehran outlined Khamenei’s terms as follows:
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- Limiting negotiations with the United States to Iran’s nuclear program only, without dismantling it.
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- A temporary suspension of economic sanctions during negotiations, rather than after an agreement is reached. If a deal is finalized with Washington, the sanctions would be completely lifted under any final agreement.
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- Iran would return to its obligations under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal.
The source from Khamenei’s office indicated that the Supreme Leader “did not address Trump’s suggestion of a direct, public communication with him, and emphasized the need to maintain the nuclear program intact, with strong guarantees from Iran that it would not develop nuclear weapons. Khamenei is also adamant that sanctions should be suspended during negotiations, not after a deal is reached.”
The same source stated: “Khamenei insists that Iran should not be negotiating under any American pressure, and certainly not appear weak, especially in front of Trump. Naturally, the Supreme Leader does not trust the Americans, and his distrust of Trump is even greater.”
Another Iranian source close to the presidency confirmed Khamenei’s position, emphasizing that “Iran cannot appear weak, especially in front of the one who ordered the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani.”
Khamenei agreed to begin direct, public negotiations with the United States, but only if Washington adhered to Iran’s conditions laid out in response to Trump’s demands.
However, a senior Iranian official expressed concern: “There is a sense of unease among the Iranian leadership, as it is unlikely Trump will agree to Khamenei’s conditions. At the same time, the American threats are worrying. Now, Pezeshkian is working on convincing Khamenei to show some flexibility to create the right conditions for negotiations.”
The same source stated: “The positive aspect of the exchanges between Tehran and Trump is that Trump has refrained from raising the issue of negotiating Iran’s missile program or its regional relations. He wants to focus solely on the nuclear program.”
Russia’s Role in Persuading Tehran and Washington
According to Iranian sources, Tehran sent its response to the U.S. administration through Moscow, which recently intervened to mediate between Iran and the United States.
According to the Iranian officials, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a lengthy phone call with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the past few days to convince him of the necessity of direct communication with President Donald Trump.
An Iranian source familiar with the matter told “Arabi Post”: “Putin tried to convince Khamenei of the need for direct communication with Trump, as this would make a big difference in the relationship between Tehran and Trump, but the Supreme Leader refused.”
The source continued: “Khamenei views Trump as wanting to make a phone call for show, not for any real negotiations. He cannot communicate directly with someone he does not trust, especially after Trump ordered the killing of Soleimani, withdrew from the nuclear deal, and imposed harsh sanctions to humiliate Iran.”
It appears that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not succeed in his goal of convincing Khamenei to speak directly with Trump. However, according to the Iranian sources, Putin reassured Khamenei, saying: “Moscow will do its best to initiate negotiations between Washington and Tehran.”
Concerns and Divisions Inside Tehran
According to Iranian sources, there is a sense of hesitation and division within Iranian institutions, particularly between Khamenei’s office and the Iranian presidency.
Some believe that Trump is not serious in his invitation and is untrustworthy, and they feel that his demands, especially regarding direct communication with Khamenei or dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, cannot be accepted.
Others argue that the time has come to show some flexibility in response to American demands, and to accelerate the negotiation process because the internal situation in Iran is increasingly volatile.
In this regard, a government source close to Pezeshkian told “Arabi Post”: “The internal situation in Iran is extremely difficult. All reports coming to the government and Khamenei’s office indicate the possibility of a flare-up at any time. Economic pressures on the Iranian people are growing every day, and we have no choice but to start negotiations with the Americans.”
The source continued: “Trump has escalated the maximum pressure campaign on Iran, imposing further sanctions on Iranian oil exports and Iranian oil tankers. We are in a dire economic situation, with about 40% of the Iranian population living below the poverty line. Inflation is very high, and this harms the stability of the Islamic Republic.”
Similarly, political analyst Hossein Ghafouri, a researcher at a think tank linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and close to decision-making circles in Tehran, spoke about the same internal concerns in Iran.
Ghafouri told “Arabi Post”: “I know the Iranian leadership does not trust Trump, and they have many reasons not to trust him, but they must consider the internal situation. Weekly reports to Khamenei’s office indicate that the likelihood of protests due to economic conditions is increasing day by day.”
Ghafouri added: “Basic goods prices have risen by more than 60% since Trump took office. We are facing fuel and electricity shortages and are approaching summer. Inflation rates are rising, and no government, whether reformist or conservative, will be able to handle this difficult economic situation without negotiating with Washington to lift sanctions.”
Both Ghafouri and the government source agreed on the need for rapid movement towards negotiations to prevent any future protests, stressing that any protests, especially after the massive protests in late 2022 following the death of Iranian activist Mahsa Amini, would greatly threaten the stability of the Iranian system.
The government source said: “The system will not withstand another wave of protests, especially given the difficult situation Iran faces after the losses it suffered in Lebanon and Syria. If Khamenei wants to preserve the Islamic Republic, he must start negotiations with the Americans immediately and stop resisting.”
On the other hand, some argue that the difficult economic situation and internal crisis will not force Iran to negotiate under pressure.
In this regard, hardline politician Seyed Ali Mousavi stated: “Those who say the difficult economic situation will force Tehran to sit at the negotiating table with Trump are achieving the Americans’ goal with the sanctions on Iran. They’ve done everything to humiliate and force Iran to negotiate and make concessions.”
Mousavi told “Arabi Post”: “Our only condition is that we will not negotiate under maximum American pressure. As for the economic situation, after more than forty years of sanctions, Iran has its own plans to circumvent them, and we’re good at it.”
