As Trump touts nuclear progress, US-Iran talks show little momentum

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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Wednesday that “the denuclearization of Iran is moving along well,” even as there is little indication that the two sides have engaged meaningfully on Iran’s nuclear program. 

Their memorandum of understanding calls for 60 days of talks focused on Iran's nuclear program, including its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Trump's vice president, JD Vance, said the negotiation clock began on June 18. 

Trump has repeatedly insisted that his future nuclear deal will be better than the 2015 pact that took the Obama administration two years to negotiate. But the technical nature of Iran’s nuclear program has most observers doubtful that a comprehensive agreement could be reached in the coming weeks and months.

“There will be no nuclear deal in the near term,” said Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. “By all accounts, it doesn't seem like the tough work in terms of technical details and assessments of what actually Iran still has appears to be happening.”

Iran has barred inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency from accessing its main nuclear sites since the US strikes in June 2025, leaving questions about the location and condition of its stockpiled uranium. The status of Iran’s enrichment capabilities at its Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities is also unclear. 

In a sign that nuclear talks have yet to gain traction, IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi did not meet with Iran’s delegation during the first round of talks in Switzerland on June 22-23. Last week, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said sanctions relief would be a prerequisite for any oversight by Grossi's agency. 

Hormuz holdup

The MoU required Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz toll-free for 60 days, but shipping has only partially rebounded amid fears of Iranian-laid mines and drones. To assert sovereignty over the international waterway, Tehran is seeking to levy charges on ships passing through it once the two-month period concludes. 

Washington insists that passage remain free, as it was before the war. On Thursday, Iran’s joint military command said ships passing through the strait must use its approved routes or face an “immediate and powerful" response. 

Iran also wants upfront access to its frozen funds to help stabilize its economy before making concessions on its nuclear program. Upon implementation of the MoU, the United States is required to free up tens of billions of dollars in Iranian funds that are held in overseas banks under US sanctions. Washington, however, is seeking to place conditions on how the money is used. 

Unlike last week’s talks in Switzerland, the Iranian delegation refused to discuss these issues face to face with their American counterparts in Qatar. Instead, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared ​Kushner met in Doha Wednesday with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, while Iran's Gharibabadi held separate talks with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Witkoff and Kushner also met with the premier on Tuesday.

By refusing to meet directly with the US side, Iran loses valuable time on a ticking clock and risks overplaying its hand, said Ellie Geranmayeh, deputy head of the European Council on Foreign Relations Middle East and North Africa program. 

“Trump needs to deliver some results on the MoU by the end of 60 days to avoid the agreement being branded as a legacy defeat for his presidency,” Geranmayeh said. “Tehran can’t leave him empty handed if it wants the diplomatic process to continue.” 

The MoU states that the talks can be “extendable with mutual consent.” But Geranmayeh said the Trump administration is unlikely to grant more time if Tehran continues to drag its feet on granting inspector access and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Ceasefire falters 

The talks in Doha were held days after the US and Iran traded strikes, with the US bombing Iranian military sites and Iran launching drone and missile attacks targeting US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait. 

Citing US officials familiar with the discussions, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Trump was briefed on options for returning to all-out war with Iran but has decided to give diplomacy more time. Trump reportedly told aides he’s fine if negotiators blow past the Aug. 18 deadline for a nuclear deal. 

That’s if a deal is reached at all. In a Tuesday interview with Fox News, Vance appeared to be laying the groundwork for the administration to say it pursued diplomacy in good faith and, deal or not, emerged with the upper hand. 

"I actually think that the United States is in a great position however the negotiation ultimately shakes out,” Vance said. “If, on the other hand, the Iranians don't behave … their nuclear program is still destroyed, their conventional military is still destroyed and the United States is still in a much stronger position relative to the Iranians." 

Trump faces midterm election pressure to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and avoid a spike in domestic gasoline prices. While war-battered Iran has already secured immediate relief from oil sanctions, it still has strong incentives to gain access to frozen funds. 

“What we have are two parties to the negotiation that are just simply trying to buy time and buy a little more wiggle room from the economic pressures they've placed upon each other,” Katulis said.