Trump signals breakthrough in nuclear talks with Iran, but key gaps remain

Trump signals breakthrough in nuclear talks with Iran, but key gaps remain

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that his administration is nearing a new nuclear deal with Iran, signalling potential progress in one of his second-term foreign policy priorities. Speaking at a business roundtable in Doha, Qatar, on the third day of his Middle East tour, Trump said the two sides are engaged in “very serious negotiations for long-term peace” and claimed Iran had “sort of agreed to the terms”, the New York Times reported.

While the remarks sparked global attention, key details of the emerging agreement remain unresolved. Most notably, the United States is pushing for restrictions on Iran’s uranium enrichment, while Tehran insists on maintaining its right to civilian nuclear energy under international law.

“Iran has sort of agreed to the terms,” Trump said, according to a White House pool report. “We’re getting close to maybe doing a deal.”

Cautious optimism, but unresolved red lines

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed Thursday that the country would never dismantle its nuclear enrichment facilities. Speaking at a book event in Tehran, he said, “None of our nuclear enrichment facilities will be dismantled.”

However, both governments have continued to express a desire for diplomacy. The negotiations—led on the US side by special envoy Steve Witkoff and mediated by Oman—have involved both in-person and indirect talks, with written messages exchanged via Omani diplomats.

Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told NBC News that Tehran would commit never to pursue nuclear weapons in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions. He also proposed a framework similar to the 2015 nuclear agreement Trump withdrew from during his first term: reducing enrichment, exporting enriched uranium, and increasing international inspections.

Shamkhani’s comments, which Trump later reposted on social media, were interpreted in Iran as a signal that the White House might drop its previous demand for full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear programme.

A possible road to compromise

In an effort to bridge the gap, Iranian officials have floated a proposal to create a regional nuclear enrichment venture involving Arab nations and U.S. investments. The initiative, which would allow Iran to enrich uranium below weapons-grade levels, is intended to provide a civilian-use framework while reassuring the international community. However, a spokesperson for Witkoff denied that such a proposal was part of the current discussions.

Still, experts say both countries are signalling intent. “Both sides are trying to message intent and show real clear interest in securing a deal,” said Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East programme at Chatham House. “But even if they agree in principle, hammering out the details will take time.”

Qatar’s growing role as mediator

Throughout the trip, Trump has praised Qatar’s role as a key go-between in the negotiations, saying Iran was “very lucky” to have such an ally. Doha has also facilitated separate talks between the US, Israel, and Hamas.

Trump’s regional tour has included high-level discussions on AI and defence partnerships in addition to the nuclear talks. In Saudi Arabia earlier this week, he offered Iran “a much better path toward a far better and more hopeful future.”

Though no deal has been finalized, officials say the current trajectory could produce a framework agreement in the coming months. Whether it results in a long-term peace accord or collapses under longstanding mistrust remains uncertain—but both sides appear more willing to talk than at any point in recent years.