President Donald Trump announced during his Gulf tour on May 15 that the United States is close to finalizing a new nuclear agreement with Iran. He stated that Iran had “sort of” agreed to the deal’s terms, raising hopes for a peaceful resolution to a long-standing international conflict. However, both sides are still negotiating key points.
Trump: “Very Serious Negotiations” for Peace
Speaking in Dubai, President Trump said the U.S. is aiming for a long-term peace deal with Iran and wants to avoid any military action. “We’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this… there is a very, very nice step and there is the violent step, but I don’t want to do it the second way,” Trump said.
His comments suggest a preference for diplomacy over force, but they also come with a warning — if talks fail, the alternative could be conflict.
Iran’s Response: Willing But Cautious
An Iranian official told NBC News that Iran is open to a deal, as long as the U.S. lifts key economic sanctions. Iran has offered to stop producing nuclear weapons, reduce its highly enriched uranium, and allow international inspectors to monitor its program.
However, it insists on keeping its right to enrich uranium for civilian energy use, which the U.S. still considers unacceptable.
Key Issues in the Talks
Talks between U.S. and Iranian officials ended in Oman on May 11, with further discussions planned. However, several major sticking points remain:
Uranium Enrichment:
The U.S. wants Iran to stop enriching uranium altogether. But Iran says this is a “red line” and insists it will continue enrichment on its own soil, though at lower levels suitable for energy production.
Highly Enriched Uranium Stockpile:
Iran has agreed to reduce its stockpile but wants to do it in stages, which the U.S. disagrees with. There’s also a dispute about where the remaining uranium would be sent.
Sanctions Relief:
Iran wants major U.S. sanctions lifted — especially those that have hit its economy hard. But U.S. negotiators are hesitant to make big concessions without more solid commitments from Tehran.
Oil Prices React to Deal Hopes
Following Trump’s comments and signs of progress, oil prices dropped by around $2. This suggests that markets expect a deal could ease sanctions and allow more Iranian oil exports, increasing global supply.
Iran’s Political Reaction
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian sharply criticized Trump earlier in the week, accusing him of hypocrisy. “Trump thinks he can sanction and threaten us and then talk of human rights,” he said. Pezeshkian also claimed that the U.S. is the true source of regional instability.
Despite the strong language, Iran’s top leaders, including Ali Shamkhani, have publicly shown a willingness to reach a deal — under the condition that their key demands, particularly around sanctions and enrichment rights, are respected.