Warships from Iran, China and Russia kicked off their annual joint exercises in the Gulf of Oman on Monday, in a show of strengthening military ties as US President Donald Trump upends longstanding Western alliances.

Iran is open to discussing concerns about its nuclear programme’s potential militarisation, per a statement by its UN mission. However, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei rejected talks with the US, asserting that demands to restrict Iran's missile programme and regional influence would not resolve issues.

Iran would consider negotiations with the U.S. if the aim of the talks was to address concerns regarding any potential militarization of its nuclear program, Iran's U.N. mission said on Sunday in a post on X.

Iran says it would consider negotiations with the United States if talks were confined to concerns about the militarization of the country’s nuclear program.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says he rejects a U.S. push for talks between the two countries because they would be aimed at imposing restrictions.

President Donald Trump says he sent a letter to Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a development that was not immediately confirmed by the supreme leader.

Iran open to U.S. negotiations on nuclear militarization concerns, rejects talks aimed at restricting missile program and regional influence.

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)