Former President Donald Trump stated that any agreement with Iran would be either a “great and meaningful” deal or no deal at all, amid ongoing negotiations aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear program. Trump, who has previously claimed he was close to finalizing a peace accord, suggested his prospective arrangement would surpass the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which he withdrew the United States from in 2018.

The JCPOA set limits on Iran’s uranium enrichment to 3.67%, a threshold considered sufficient for civilian energy purposes but below what is needed for nuclear weapons. Since the U.S. exit from the pact, Iran has increased its uranium enrichment levels. Trump emphasized that his deal would impose stricter constraints to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Meanwhile, Iranian officials remain cautious about the status of the talks. Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf and foreign minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Qatar to engage in discussions with the country’s prime minister, focusing on key issues such as uranium enrichment and control over the Strait of Hormuz. The strait, a critical transit route for roughly 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas shipments, has been a flashpoint of tension following Iran’s closure of the waterway to “enemy ships” earlier this year, escalating regional instability and impacting global energy markets.

Despite the talks generating renewed optimism, Iranian authorities maintain that only a framework agreement has been reached, not a full settlement. Iran insists on the release of billions of dollars in frozen sanctioned funds and wants to retain its strategic influence over the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei underscored that the country reserves the right to defend itself and did not rule out regional escalation if confronted, stating that any conflict could extend beyond Iran’s immediate borders — a remark he clarified was not intended as a direct threat.

U.S. officials acknowledge progress but caution that significant obstacles remain. Senator Marco Rubio, speaking from India, referred to a “pretty solid” proposal on the table involving reopening the Strait of Hormuz and initiating substantive, time-limited nuclear negotiations. However, the U.S. secretary of state emphasized that if diplomatic efforts fail, alternative measures would be pursued to address the situation.

As the world awaits a resolution, the outcome of these discussions remains uncertain, with both Washington and Tehran balancing diplomatic engagement against the risks of escalating regional conflict.