Trump revealed this week that he was seeking to strike a new deal with the Iranian regime, after withdrawing from an Obama-era agreement in his first term.

President Trump said he sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week asking that the two leaders "negotiate" over the Islamic republic's nuclear program. On Saturday, the Iranian leader condemned the effort by unnamed "bullying governments" to make a deal over the program.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei decried “bullying governments” in an apparent response to a letter the White House sent to Iran earlier in the week.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that Tehran will not be bullied into negotiations, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had sent a letter to the country's top authority to negotiate a nuclear deal.

US president reiterates he won't allow Iran to acquire the bomb, warns that if US decides to act with force 'it’s going to be a terrible thing,' says something will happen 'soon'

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks under a portrait of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, as armed forces commander slisten, at rear, in a ceremony meeting a group of officials, in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

Trump said on Friday he had warned Tehran in a letter it could face military action unless it agreed to talks for a nuclear deal. In a furious response on Saturday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran would not negotiate with "bullying governments" insisting on talks.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, said in a series of X posts Saturday he would not negotiate a nuclear deal with the U.S. due to its demands.