Trump Says U.S. and Iran Close to Nuclear Deal
President Trump said Thursday that the U.S. is nearing a nuclear deal with Iran, claiming Tehran has "sort of" agreed to the terms. Speaking in Qatar during his Gulf tour, Trump called the talks “very serious negotiations” and hinted that a military strike might be avoided if diplomacy prevails. “We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran,” he said, emphasizing his preference for a peaceful resolution over violence.
Despite the optimism from Washington, Iranian officials have stressed that key differences remain. While Iran is reportedly willing to reduce its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and commit to peaceful nuclear activity in exchange for lifting U.S. sanctions, disagreements persist over how much uranium should be removed, where it should go, and the timeline for sanctions relief. An Iranian source familiar with the negotiations said, “The issue is that America is not willing to lift major sanctions in exchange.”
Trump withdrew from the original 2015 deal, but now both sides appear cautiously open to compromise. Iran’s adviser Ali Shamkhani told U.S. media that Tehran would allow international inspectors and limit enrichment to civilian levels. Talks in Oman wrapped on Sunday, with both countries agreeing to continue. A senior U.S. official called the progress “encouraging,” while Iran’s foreign minister described the discussions as “difficult but useful.”
