Trump claims US and Iran have ‘sort of’ reached terms on nuclear deal

Reuters
Reuters

President Donald Trump said the United States and Iran have “sort of” agreed on terms for a nuclear deal, signaling potential progress in long-standing negotiations - but with military threats still on the table if diplomacy fails.

During a business roundtable in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday, US President Donald Trump revealed that the United States and Iran have "sort of" agreed on the terms of a nuclear deal. His comments hint at a possible diplomatic breakthrough, though key issues remain unresolved.

Trump described the ongoing dialogue between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as “very serious negotiations” aimed at achieving long-term peace. “Iran has sort of agreed to the terms: They’re not going to make, I call it, in a friendly way, nuclear dust,” Trump said, suggesting a mutual understanding to avoid nuclear escalation.

Despite the cautious optimism, Trump emphasized throughout his visit to the Gulf region that the possibility of military action remains should talks collapse.

Iranian officials also signaled a willingness to compromise. A senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told NBC News that Tehran could agree to significantly curb its nuclear activities. This includes eliminating stockpiles of weapons-grade uranium, limiting enrichment to levels suitable for civilian energy, and permitting international oversight.

In exchange, Iran is demanding the immediate removal of all economic sanctions - a condition Tehran views as critical to any final agreement.

However, key points of contention remain. Just hours after Trump’s remarks, Araghchi reiterated Iran’s firm stance on uranium enrichment. “We have said repeatedly that defending Iran’s nuclear rights - including enrichment - is a fundamental principle,” he stated. “This is not something we concede, either in public discourse or in negotiations.”

While both sides appear to be inching closer to a deal, deep-rooted distrust and differing interpretations of core rights and obligations continue to challenge the path to a comprehensive agreement.

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