Iran's Khamenei on Donald Trump's military action threat: ‘Some bully govts’

Donald Trump said he wrote a letter to Iran's leadership, urging the country to negotiate a new nuclear deal.

Published on: Mar 8, 2025, 21:42:57 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday slammed what he described as bullying tactics a day after US President Donald Trump threatened military action against Iran.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded to Donald Trump's remark threatening military action against Tehran. (AFP)

"Some bully governments -- I really don't know of any more appropriate term for some foreign figures and leaders than the word bullying -- insist on negotiations. Their negotiations are not aimed at solving problems, they aim at domination," AFP quoted Khamenei as saying during a meeting with country's officials.

The Iranian leader's remark comes hours after Tehran's mission to the United Nations said that it received no letter from Trump.

ALSO READ: Iran rejects Trump's offer for nuclear deal talks under ‘maximum pressure’ policy

"We have not received such a letter so far," said a spokesman for Iran's embassy to the UN after Tehran's foreign minister told AFP Friday that the country would not negotiate so long as the United States applies “maximum pressure.”

ALSO READ: Russia offers to mediate between US and Iran in nuclear program talks

Trump's letter to Iran on nuclear talks

On Friday, Trump said he wrote a letter to Iran's leadership, urging the country to negotiate a new nuclear deal.

“I’ve written them a letter saying I hope you negotiate, because if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing for them,” Trump told Fox’s Maria Bartiromo in an interview.

Trump said that while he isn’t ruling out a military intervention, he would “rather negotiate a deal.”

“I’m not sure that everybody agrees with me, but we can make a deal that would be just as good as if you won militarily,” the US president said.

Later Friday in the Oval Office, Trump said the situation with Iran was “down to final strokes” and suggested a deadline for striking a deal or military action was rapidly approaching.

“We have a situation with Iran that something’s going to happen very soon,” Bloomberg quoted Trump as saying.

“Hopefully we can have a peace deal. I’m not speaking out of strength or weakness. I’m just saying I’d rather see a peace deal," he added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.