Iran Weighs Interim Nuclear Deal In Bid To Ease Tensions With U.S

Iran is reportedly considering proposing an interim nuclear agreement in ongoing negotiations with the United States, aiming to ease rising tensions and lay the groundwork for a longer-term accord.

According to Axios, Iranian officials view a comprehensive deal as unlikely within the tight two-month deadline set by President Donald Trump. As a result, Tehran may advocate for an interim arrangement to de-escalate the situation and buy time for deeper discussions.

Key elements of the proposed interim deal include:

• Suspending certain uranium enrichment activities

• Reducing its enriched uranium stockpile to 60%

• Allowing expanded UN inspections of nuclear facilities

Though these measures would not significantly delay Iran’s potential ability to develop a nuclear weapon, experts suggest they could help restore trust and momentum in the negotiation process.

There is also speculation that the proposed deal could be tied to the Snapback mechanism—a clause from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that allows for the automatic reinstatement of UN sanctions if Iran violates the agreement. That mechanism is set to expire in October.

For the interim deal to move forward, however, President Trump may need to ease his “maximum pressure” campaign—a strategy aimed at crippling Iran’s economy. Whether he is willing to do so remains uncertain.

During his 2024 campaign, Trump hinted at openness to a new nuclear deal, a potential shift from his previously hardline stance. This comes despite allegations that Iran plotted to assassinate him—claims that the U.S. government took seriously.

Still, Trump has continued to tighten sanctions. In early February, he reimposed restrictions targeting Iran’s oil exports and nuclear ambitions. On February 6, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned an international network accused of funneling oil revenues to Iran’s military.

In a surprising twist, Bloomberg reported in March that Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered to assist Trump in the negotiations—adding further complexity to the situation.

The original JCPOA, signed in 2015 by Iran and world powers, required Tehran to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. The Trump administration withdrew from the deal in 2018, prompting Iran to resume uranium enrichment. Efforts to revive the agreement under President Biden collapsed in late 2022 after disputes over an IAEA probe into Iran’s undisclosed nuclear activities.

Since then, the deal has remained dormant, with Trump’s return to office signaling a tougher U.S. posture. Whether an interim agreement can break the impasse remains to be seen.