2025 US–Iran negotiations

In 2025, the United States and Iran started a series of negotiations aimed at reaching a nuclear peace agreement, following a letter from President Donald Trump to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The first round of high level-meetings was held in Oman on April 12, 2025, led by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The discussions were described as constructive.

The second round of Omani-mediated talks took place in Rome on April 19, 2025, again with indirect discussions between Witkoff and Araghchi. This was followed by a third high-level round in Muscat round a week later, and an expert-level meeting to develop a framework for a possible nuclear agreement, led by Michael Anton for the U.S. and by Majid Takht-Ravanchi for Iran.

The US military has been building up its presence in the Middle East as the threat of war escalates. US bases throughout the region accommodate approximately 50,000 American troops. As part of the peace proposals, Iran offered to build at least 19 additional reactors, suggesting that contracts for these projects could help revive the struggling U.S. nuclear industry. Araghchi's speech announcing this was cancelled by its venue Carnegie institute. During the talks Russia started funding construction of a nuclear reactor in Iran.

The French government has threatened to trigger the snapback mechanism of United Nations sanctions should the talks fail. Iran has proposed holding further talks with European participation, while also offering investment opportunities.

On May 1st Defense Secretary Hegseth posted that Iran will pay for supporting Houthis attacks on merchant ships in Red Sea crisis. President Trump warned secondary sanctions on entities buying any oil and petrochemicals from Iran. Rubio warned to walk away from nuclear enrichment. Araqchi canceled the May 4th meeting on "technical reason".

Iran's nuclear program has been a focal point of international scrutiny for decades. While the country suspended its formal nuclear weapons program in 2003, and claims its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes, it has continued weaponization efforts and enriched uranium to levels approaching the weapons-grade threshold. The program has received external assistance, including from Pakistan and North Korea, with the latter supplying both missiles and uranium. Iran has developed long-range missile technology under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with some designs based on North Korean models. Its latest developments could enable nuclear-capable missiles with a range of up to 3,000 km, capable of reaching targets in Europe.  

Analysts and researchers say that a nuclear-armed Iran poses significant global security risks and undermines the stability of the Middle East. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi warns that an Iranian nuclear weapon could trigger broad nuclear proliferation, as other countries, particularly in the Middle East, may seek similar capabilities in response. Concerns also exist that Iran's nuclear assets could fall into the hands of extremist factions due to internal instability or regime change. Additionally, Iran's success in acquiring nuclear weapons could encourage other regional powers to seek their own nuclear arsenals. The potential transfer of nuclear technology or weapons to radical states and terrorist organizations heightens fears of nuclear terrorism. Scholars argue that a nuclear-armed Iran could feel emboldened to increase its support for terrorism and insurgency—core elements of its strategy—while deterring retaliation through its newfound nuclear leverage.

In response to Iran's nuclear program, the international community imposed sanctions that severely impacted its economy, restricting its oil exports and limiting access to global financial systems. In 2015, however, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed, imposing strict limitations on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. In 2018, the United States withdrew from the agreement, with President Donald Trump stating that "the heart of the Iran deal was a giant fiction: that a murderous regime desired only a peaceful nuclear energy program". The US also contended that the agreement was inadequate because it did not impose limitations on Iran's ballistic missile program, and failed to curb its backing of proxy groups.

In early 2025, reports stated that "Iran is closer to a bomb than ever before," as the country escalated its uranium enrichment activities, reaching levels of up to 60% purity. IAEA reported that Iran possesses approximately 250 kilograms of uranium enriched to this level, which could potentially yield multiple nuclear weapons if further refined. A report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence concluded that Iran had sufficient fissile material to produce more than a dozen nuclear weapons. The Institute for Science and International Security reports that Iran could enrich enough uranium for one nuclear bomb in just a week and accumulate enough for seven bombs within a month. Iranian officials have stated that while the country possesses the technical capability to develop nuclear weapons, they have also hinted that the current religious ruling forbidding it could change.

Following these reports, US president Trump said he would not tolerate an "Iranian nuclear weapons capability". In March 2025, President Trump sent a letter to Khamenei, proposing negotiations over Iran's nuclear program but Khamenei rejected the offer. Trump did not rule out supporting military action if diplomatic efforts to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions fail, with his team adding that "all options are on the table" when it comes to Iran.

In February 2025 Trump reinstated the "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran, aiming to compel Iran to negotiate a new nuclear agreement while preventing its development of nuclear weapons and countering its regional influence.. After making his letter to Khamenei public, Trump said that Iran "cannot have a nuclear weapon" and warned of possible military action if the talks failed. Trump has said US military will preemptively attack Iranians should the negotiations collapse.

Before the talks, Khamenei repeatedly called the negotiatons and recent U.S. threats "unwise" and forbade them, on several occasions, threatened the American military with retaliation in his speeches. He added that Iran neither has nor pursues nuclear weapons, as they do not desire them. Khamenei reportedly changed his mind about the negotiations after his advisors warned that the threat of war with the United States and the deepening economic crisis could bring down the regime.

Iran had reportedly also proposed steps to deescalate tensions, including a pledge to disarm and freeze the activities of Hamas, the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hashd al-Shaabi.

Russia has denied any military assistance to Iran in the event of a U.S. military invasion, while asserting that such an invasion would ultimately fail.

Participants of the high-level negotiations:

• U.S.: Steve Witkoff - White House special envoy leading the American side of the negotiations with Iran.
• Iran: Abbas Araghchi - Iranian foreign minister who insisted on indirect talks and has published an op-ed in The Washington Post to appeal to Trump.
  

Participants of the expert-level negotiations:

• U.S.: Director of Policy Planning Michael Anton, and representatives from the Department of State and Department of Treasury
• Iran: Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi, who was involved in the 2015 nuclear negotiations.

There are no European negotiators. France stated its intention to participate, despite not being present. China, Russia, and Iran held a joint meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on April 24 to discuss Iran's nuclear program.

Trump has said he is open to meet Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

During the talks Iran revamped its relationships with Saudi with Khamenei receiving the Saudi King's letter and Saudi minister of Defense.

Iran-US negotiations for a deal have been ongoing since 1995. A nuclear agreement was reached in 2015, from which Trump withdrew in 2018. In the early administration before the talks, Iranians reported that Trump advisor Elon Musk had met Iranian envoy. In January Musk helped free Italian journalist held hostage by Iranian regime.

On March 7, 2025 Trump's letter to Iran was made public, expressing his desire to initiate new nuclear talks. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Eslami declared Iran plans to build more nuclear power plants.

The first talks were held on April 12, 2025 in Oman, Muscat. The talks were led by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi; each delegation was in separate rooms, with messages relayed through Omani mediators. The discussions were described as constructive. Afterwards, the leaders of both negotiating teams spoke briefly in person.

An Iranian news outlet has reported that during the talks in Oman, Iran proposed a three-step plan to reach a deal with the United States:

1. Iran would agree to temporarily lower its uranium enrichment to 3.67% in return for access to frozen financial assets in the United States and authorization to export its oil.
2. Iran would permanently halt high-level uranium enrichment, restore inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog, and commit to implementing the Additional Protocol, allowing for surprise inspections at undeclared sites. These steps would be taken if the United States lifts further sanctions and persuades Britain, Germany, and France not to trigger the snapback of UN sanctions against Tehran.
3. The U.S. Congress would approve the nuclear agreement and Washington would lift both primary and secondary sanctions, while Iran would transfer its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium to a third country.

U.S. envoy Witkoff reportedly welcomed the proposals presented by the Iranian delegation in Muscat, which was unexpected by the Iranian side.
Times of Oman reported Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi was taped while he stole a gold pen during talks. The Iranian regime demanded an apology from Oman Times.

Khamenei wrote a letter that Araghchi delivered to Putin on April 16. Russia then ratified the Iranian–Russian Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The second round of Omani-mediated talks in Rome occurred on April 19, 2025, one week after the initial meeting in Muscat, the capital of Oman in four hours. Once again, the indirect discussions were led by Araghchi and Witkoff, with messages conveyed through Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi.

Following the second round of talks, the Israeli Air Force reportedly conducted drills simulating an Iranian missile attack on Israeli airbases. Meanwhile, Iran was reported to be constructing a large security barrier around two underground tunnel complexes linked to its main nuclear facility.

The third round of high-level negotiations took place on April 26, 2025, along with the first round of expert-level talks. The high-level talks were described as serious and productive, with both sides aiming for an agreement based on mutual respect. Araghchi reported progress but noted that key differences remained.

Trump’s special envoy, Witkoff, aims to finalize the deal within 60 days; however, he is likely to encounter resistance from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi due to the significant mistrust between the two parties. Another critical issue is Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and its potential destruction, for which the US would agree to lift economic sanctions. While Iran intends to retain its enriched uranium stockpile within its borders, the US insists on transferring it to a third country. Additionally, Iran seeks guarantees to protect itself in the event that the US withdraws from or violates the agreement.

On April 30, US Treasury sanctioned 6 Chinese chemical components companies connected to Iran.

BBC reported that Araghchi stated he wanted to speak with Europeans in Berlin, Paris and London also. Khamenei told his supporters not to protest and insult the talks and that the talks are just a delay until Islamic shiite state is established. Mehdi Kouchakzadeh stated that the Iranian parliament had received no official information about the ongoing negotiations. He added that, although the outcome was unfavorable, they would not oppose it. Iranian Rial slightly gained and Tehran Stock Exchange rose 2.16%. Former Prince Reza Pahlavi called on the United States to take out the most vulnerable and unstable Iranian regime rather than talks. Iranian dissidents and social media users increasingly speculated that the former U.S. embassy in Tehran, seized in 1979 might be returned to American control. Kayhan London described the talks as major failure of the Iranian regime while the Iranian-based newspaper Kayhan claimed Iran has the upper hand. The talks caused division and drift among members of ultra hard extremist Front of Islamic Revolution Stability party. Iran charged two newspapers media executives for their coverage of the talks.

Former chief negotiator and Secretary of State John Kerry commended Trump's effort and compared the negotiations to "Khomeini poisoned chalice". White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has stated that should Iran develop nukes, there will be "all hell to pay". On April 18, secretary of state Marco Rubio urged European countries to quickly decide on reimposing sanctions against Iran, warning that Iran is violating the existing agreement and nearing the capability to develop a nuclear weapon. Rubio later also said Iran can have a civilian nuclear energy program instead of a military WMD atomic weapons program. Secretary of defense Pete Hegseth and national security advisor Mike Waltz are reportedly divided on whether US military should attack Iran. Trump told reporters he is in no rush to attack Iran and it still has a chance to "live happily without death".

Former special representative for Iran Elliott Abrams argued that Trump does not seek war. However, should the talks fail, Iran’s nuclear program should be destroyed by Israel and/or the US. Policital commentator Tucker Carlson argued this to be the worst time for US military intervention in Iran.

Initialy oil futures prices dropped 1.4%. Saudi Arabia commended negotiations to restrain Iran more. Israel supported deweaponization of Iranian atomic energy establishments Libya model like that of Disarmament of Libya. Trump revealed Israel would lead a military attack on Iran if it failed to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Al Monitor reported the Chinese have also came to support Iranian regime through strengthened relations.

Although the relationship between IAEA director Rafael Grossi and Trump's negotiating team is unclear, Grossi is scheduled to visit Iran in the third week of April 2025. Iranian military advisor and security council politician Shamkhani has warned Iran will throw out IAEA inspectors.

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