Dhaka, March 31 -- Iran has responded to a letter sent by U.S. President Donald Trump to the country's supreme leader in an effort to revive discussions on Tehran's rapidly progressing nuclear program, rejecting the idea of direct talks.

While Tehran has dismissed direct negotiations, it has not entirely ruled out indirect discussions with Washington. However, efforts at indirect talks have stalled ever since Trump withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear agreement with world powers in 2018 during his first term.

Trump has threatened new sanctions as part of his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, and reiterated that military action against Iran remains a possibility, although he continues to believe a new agreement is achievable.

Iran's 85...