Iran’s president said Sunday that the Islamic Republic rejected direct negotiations with the United States over its rapidly advancing nuclear program, offering Tehran’s first response to a letter President Donald Trump sent to the country’s supreme leader.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ruled out direct negotiations with the administration of US President Donald Trump over the country’s nuclear programme but signalled a willingness for indirect talks, while Trump threatened bombings and secondary tariffs if Tehran does not come to an agreement with Washington.

President Donald Trump threatened Iran with bombings and secondary tariffs if the country does not come to an agreement with his administration about its nuclear program. “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” Trump said during a phone call with NBC News’ Kristen Welker on Sunday.