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 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.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran will not be bullied into negotiations, a day after President Donald Trump said he sent a letter urging Tehran to negotiate.

Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium as tensions between Tehran and Washington rise after the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, a report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog seen by The Associated Press on Wednesday showed.

Iran's stock of uranium close to weapons grade has jumped since December, two reports by the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday.

The report from the International Atomic Energy Agency comes amid growing concerns that Iran may pursue a nuclear weapon.

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's Supreme leader has criticised "bullying" countries in an apparent response to Donald Trump's comments that he had sent a letter to Iran demanding negotiations over its nuclear programme. 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.

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.

Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched just below the level needed for nuclear weapons surged more than 50% in the last three months, defying mounting pressure on the Islamic Republic to curb its atomic activities.

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)

VIENNA — Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium as tensions between Tehran and Washington rise after the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, a report by the ...