President Trump said he sent a letter on Thursday to Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and stressed that he wants to reach a deal on the country’s nuclear program.

Why it matters: Trump’s letter to Khamenei, which the president revealed in an interview with Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo that will air on Sunday, is the first significant engagement between the U.S. and Iran since the new administration took office.

What he’s saying: Trump reiterated in the interview that he wants to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Iran.

• “The other alternative is you have to do something because Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said in the interview.

Catch up quick: Khamenei said recently that he doesn’t support direct talks with the Trump administration because he doesn’t trust the U.S.

• Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian said last week that he supports a dialogue with the U.S. but will follow Khamenei’s advice.

Flashback: Trump’s move follows a similar step by former President Barack Obama who sent a letter to Khamenei in 2009 proposing negotiations on a nuclear deal.

• Trump sharply criticized Obama for the nuclear deal after it came together in his second term.