Senior US officials within the Trump administration have reportedly admitted that the likelihood of a nuclear agreement with Iran is diminishing. The Wall Street Journal disclosed on Friday that officials made a rare acknowledgment that President Trump’s key objectives to restrict Iran’s nuclear capabilities may not be attainable.
Since the conflict erupted on February 28 this year, Donald Trump has emphasized that Tehran should never be permitted to advance its nuclear program. This particular demand became a major hurdle in the ongoing peace negotiations between the two nations, which eventually stalled.
Furthermore, the recent ceasefire pact collapsed this week, dashing hopes of resolving the conflict. President Trump terminated the fragile truce on Tuesday, leading to retaliatory strikes on Tehran the following day in response to Iran’s missile assaults on three oil and gas vessels in the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the week.
The status of the global shipping passage has been another contentious point, with the reopening of the Strait being a crucial element in the negotiations. Officials anticipate that Iran will issue a statement committing to cease firing at ships passing through the waterway and to keep it unobstructed.
In case Iran fails to make this commitment by Saturday, one official warned of potential severe repercussions, although others did not specify a definite deadline, according to the Wall Street Journal.
President Trump expressed uncertainty about the prospect of a deal, stating that Iran will not develop a nuclear weapon under any agreement. As options narrow, Trump may choose to escalate military actions to halt Iran’s nuclear program, compromise on a deal that falls short of his expectations, or completely disengage from the conflict, raising concerns about the future operations in the Strait.
Officials highlighted that a nuclear agreement hinges on Iran surrendering its enriched uranium. The interim peace accord, inked in June, obliged Iran to guarantee the safe passage of ships in the Strait. An Iranian official recognized the mistake in targeting commercial vessels and underscored the need for ongoing negotiations.
Both parties have a 60-day window to finalize a deal on the nuclear issue, with the possibility of an extension. While Iran has not explicitly committed to reducing or suspending its nuclear activities, it has agreed to find a satisfactory resolution regarding its existing highly enriched uranium stockpile.
