Iran has officially responded to a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump, delivered earlier this month, aimed at reviving stalled nuclear talks with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The reply, sent via Oman on March 26, signals Tehran’s cautious stance as Trump pushes to curb Iran’s advancing nuclear program.

According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the response but kept its contents under wraps, leaving the diplomatic exchange shrouded in mystery.

Trump’s letter, handed over by Emirati diplomat Anwar Gargash during a March 12 visit to Tehran, comes amid escalating tensions. The U.S. has ramped up its “maximum pressure” campaign with fresh sanctions, while Trump has dangled both negotiation and military action as options.

Iran, enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels, insists its program is peaceful but faces growing scrutiny from the West.

Araghchi reiterated Iran’s refusal to engage in direct talks under duress, saying, “Our policy remains firm against negotiating amid maximum pressure and threats.” Yet, he left the door ajar for indirect discussions, a method used in past administrations.

With the 85-year-old Khamenei holding ultimate authority, Iran’s response could shape the trajectory of this high-stakes standoff, as Trump seeks a deal to replace the one he scrapped in 2018. Details remain elusive, but the chess game continues.