DOHA — U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has “sort of” agreed to the terms of a new nuclear agreement with the United States, signaling a potential breakthrough in negotiations that could ease long-standing tensions between the two countries.
Speaking Thursday in Doha, Qatar, during the second leg of his Gulf tour, Trump expressed cautious optimism over the recent round of diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran, which concluded on Sunday.
“We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran,” the president said, addressing business leaders after a meeting. “I think we’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this… You probably read today the story about Iran. It’s sort of agreed to the terms.”
Trump did not specify which report he was referencing, but his remarks appeared to echo recent statements made by Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In an interview with ABC News, Shamkhani indicated that Iran is open to significant concessions on its nuclear programme, including giving up stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, if the United States agrees to lift economic sanctions that have crippled the Iranian economy.
Iran maintains that its nuclear ambitions are entirely peaceful and aimed at energy production, while the U.S. has long expressed concern that uranium enrichment could be diverted to build nuclear weapons. Washington insists that Iran must halt its enrichment activities entirely to guarantee long-term regional stability.
The recent talks, which took place over the weekend, marked the latest effort in a renewed diplomatic push that began in April. Both sides have described the discussions in cautiously positive terms. U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff called them “encouraging,” while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi characterized the negotiations as “difficult but useful.”
A senior U.S. official revealed that Sunday’s discussions lasted more than three hours. “Agreement was reached to move forward with the talks to continue working through technical elements,” the official said. “We are encouraged by today’s outcome and look forward to our next meeting, which will happen in the near future.”
Trump’s comments in Doha suggest a shift in tone from earlier threats of military intervention. In the past, he has warned of potential strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities if diplomacy failed. However, on Thursday, he appeared more focused on striking a peaceful resolution.
The president famously withdrew the United States from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018, a multilateral agreement signed between Iran and six world powers, which sought to limit Tehran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
While skeptics remain wary of Iran’s intentions, the latest developments suggest that a new framework—albeit under different terms—could be within reach. Talks are expected to resume soon, with both parties working to resolve complex technical and political issues that have hindered previous agreements.
Whether Trump’s assessment of Iran having “sort of” agreed will translate into a formal deal remains to be seen, but diplomatic efforts are clearly gaining momentum.