On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced that the United States is nearing a nuclear agreement with Iran, indicating that Tehran has tentatively accepted the terms.
During a Gulf tour, Trump stated, ‘We are engaged in serious negotiations with Iran aimed at achieving long-term peace.’ He added, ‘We are close to potentially finalizing a deal without resorting to other measures… There are two approaches to this situation: a favorable one and a violent one, and I prefer to avoid the latter.’
Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
There is 2 steps… There is a very nice step, and there is a very violent step.
I hope we don’t have to do the second step. pic.twitter.com/n7k8RocD8P
— Joe Rambo (@BrainStorm_Joe) May 15, 2025
However, an Iranian source involved in the discussions noted that significant differences remain in the negotiations with the U.S. Oil prices dropped by approximately $2 on Thursday amid hopes for a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal that could lead to the easing of sanctions. Recent talks between Iranian and U.S. negotiators regarding Tehran’s nuclear program concluded in Oman on Sunday, with further discussions anticipated, as Iran publicly maintained its stance on continuing uranium enrichment.
The Trump administration presented Iran with a nuclear deal proposal during the fourth round of negotiations on Sunday, according to a U.S. official and two other sources familiar with the situation. Nevertheless, a senior Iranian official stated that Tehran had not received any new proposal from the United States to resolve the long-standing nuclear conflict, emphasizing that Iran would not compromise on its right to enrich uranium domestically. While both Tehran and Washington have expressed a preference for diplomatic solutions, they remain at odds over several critical issues that negotiators must navigate to achieve a new agreement and prevent potential military conflict.
In a recent NBC News interview, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei indicated that Iran is open to a deal with the U.S. in exchange for the removal of economic sanctions.
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser, stated that Iran is committed to never developing nuclear weapons and eliminating its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. Iran will agree to enrich uranium solely to the lower levels necessary for civilian purposes and will permit international inspectors to oversee this process, according to NBC.
However, a senior Iranian official informed Reuters that the concept of sending enriched uranium above 5% is not new and has consistently been part of negotiations with the U.S. This official emphasized that it is a complex and technical matter that hinges on the other party’s willingness to effectively and verifiably lift sanctions on Iran.
red lines
Iranian authorities have repeatedly asserted that one of Tehran’s red lines is to reduce its highly enriched uranium stockpile to levels below those stipulated in the 2015 nuclear agreement with six world powers, which was abandoned by Trump in 2018.
U.S. officials have publicly insisted that Iran must cease uranium enrichment, a position that Iranian officials have labeled a ‘red line,’ asserting their right as a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Nevertheless, they have shown a readiness to lower the enrichment levels. Iranian authorities have indicated that the clerical establishment is willing to accept certain limitations on uranium enrichment, but in exchange, Tehran demands the removal of severe sanctions imposed since 2018 and solid guarantees that Trump will not withdraw from a nuclear agreement again.
Sources close to the negotiation team have indicated that while Iran is ready to make what it considers concessions, the challenge lies in America’s reluctance to lift significant sanctions in return.
Regarding the reduction of enriched uranium in storage, Iranian sources mentioned that Tehran seeks to have it removed in several phases, which America does not agree to. Additionally, there is a disagreement over the destination for the highly enriched uranium, the source added.
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