Iran’s supreme leader has attacked Donald Trump’s “bullying” tactics after he threatened military action if it did not engage in a nuclear weapons deal.

The US president had written to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, urging new talks on the country’s nuclear programme or face possible military action if it refuses.

“They are setting new expectations that they think will definitely not be met by Iran,” Khamenei said, without naming the US or referring to Mr Trump’s letter.

“Some bully governments – I really don’t know of any more appropriate term for some foreign figures and leaders than the word bullying – insist on negotiations.”

Mr Trump’s first term in office was marked by a particularly troubled period of relations with Tehran.

In 2018, he unilaterally withdrew the US from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, leading to sanctions hobbling Iran’s economy.

Iran retaliated with attacks at sea – including one that it likely carried out and that temporarily halved Saudi Arabia’s oil production.

Mr Trump subsequently ordered the attack that killed Qasem Soleimani, Iran’s top general, in a Baghdad drone strike in January 2020.