What's happened
As of May 29, 2025, negotiations between Iran and the U.S. over Tehran's nuclear program are ongoing, with both sides expressing a willingness to reach an agreement. U.S. President Trump indicated a potential deal could emerge in the coming weeks, while the International Atomic Energy Agency's director noted positive signs in the discussions. However, key issues remain unresolved, particularly regarding uranium enrichment.
What's behind the headline?
Key Issues in the Negotiations
- Uranium Enrichment: The primary sticking point remains Iran's uranium enrichment levels. The U.S. insists on a complete halt, while Iran demands the right to continue enrichment.
- Economic Sanctions: The lifting of sanctions is crucial for Iran's economy, which has suffered significantly. The U.S. aims to leverage sanctions to ensure compliance with nuclear restrictions.
- Regional Security: Israel's threats to strike Iranian facilities complicate the negotiations, as Iran warns of severe consequences for any military action.
Future Implications
- Potential for Agreement: If both sides can compromise on enrichment, a deal could stabilize the region and improve U.S.-Iran relations.
- Continued Tensions: Failure to reach an agreement may lead to increased military tensions and further destabilization in the Middle East, particularly with Israel's involvement.
What the papers say
According to the South China Morning Post, President Trump expressed optimism about reaching a deal, stating, "they want to make a deal... save a lot of lives." Meanwhile, Rafael Mariano Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, noted ongoing discussions as a positive sign, saying, "the jury is still out" on whether an agreement will be reached (The Times of Israel). However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has firmly stated that any deal without the right to enrich uranium is unacceptable, emphasizing, "we do NOT have a deal" (AP News). This highlights the contrasting positions of the U.S. and Iran, with the former pushing for a complete halt to enrichment and the latter insisting on its continuation.
How we got here
The U.S. and Iran have been engaged in negotiations to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. Tensions have escalated since the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, leading Iran to enrich uranium to near weapons-grade levels. Recent talks have been mediated by Oman, with both sides struggling to find common ground on enrichment terms.
Go deeper
- What are the main issues in the Iran-U.S. talks?
- How does Israel factor into these negotiations?
- What could a potential deal mean for the region?
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More on these topics
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Abbas Araghchi is an Iranian diplomat who is currently the political deputy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran. He previously held office as the Deputy for Asia–Pacific and the Commonwealth Affairs and Legal and International Affairs of the Mini
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Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is a country on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. Located in a strategically important position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the country shares land borders with the United Arab E
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a sovereign country consisting of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and surrounded by several islands. Italy is located in south-central Europe, and is considered part of western Europe.
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Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei is a Twelver Shia Marja' and the second and current supreme leader of Iran, in office since 1989. He was previously the president of Iran from 1981 to 1989.
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Steven Charles Witkoff is an American real estate investor and landlord based in New York City, and founder of the Witkoff Group.
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The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons.