Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has firmly ruled out direct negotiations with the United States, responding to a recent letter from US President Donald Trump. Speaking on Sunday, Pezeshkian emphasized that while Tehran would not engage in face-to-face talks with Washington, the path to indirect negotiations remains open. His remarks were reported by the Iranian Tasnim news agency.

Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran has never been opposed to dialogue in principle. However, he pointed to the United States’ history of broken promises, most notably its 2018 withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, as a major obstacle to restoring trust between the two countries.

“Trust must be restored,” the Iranian president said, making it clear that the US’s future actions will be the determining factor in whether any diplomatic progress can be made. Pezeshkian’s comments reflect a cautious but not entirely closed stance, signaling that Tehran is open to negotiation under the right conditions, albeit through indirect channels.

The rejection of direct talks underscores the deep mistrust that continues to define US-Iran relations. As the Biden-era nuclear diplomacy gave way to a new approach under the re-elected Trump administration, both sides now appear to be re-evaluating the terms and tone of engagement.

While no timeline has been set for further discussions, Pezeshkian’s statements suggest that Iran is awaiting concrete steps from Washington to rebuild diplomatic credibility. The future of Iran-US relations, particularly concerning nuclear negotiations, remains uncertain and highly dependent on mutual concessions and restored faith in international commitments.