US-Iran nuclear talks 2025

In April 2025, the US and Iran held their first indirect talks under the Trump administration on a new agreement to limit Iran’s nuclear programme.

The US had withdrawn from a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) under the first Trump administration, in 2018. President Trump had described the deal as “enriching Iran”, and “at best delaying its ability to pursue nuclear weapons”. A range of sanctions were reimposed against Iran.

The Biden administration restarted talks with Iran to restore the deal in 2021, but these were affected by the Israel-Hamas conflict and stalled from 2022.

While the US has withdrawn from the JCPOA, UN sanctions measures under the agreement can be re-implemented under the agreement’s “snapback” provisions, until October 2025, if Iran does not meet the agreement. Governments of France, Germany and the UK are willing to take this step.

This briefing paper sets out US-Iran talks in 2025, international reaction, the status of Iran’s nuclear programmes and current sanctions against Iran.

What is the status of Iran’s nuclear programme?

At the time of US withdrawal in 2018, Iran was adhering to the JCPOA’s limits on its nuclear activity, though began to exceed these from 2020. These restrictions included a cap on its stockpile of uranium and level of uranium enrichment. Iranian actions include increasing its enrichment activities to 60%, significantly beyond the 3.67% permitted under the JCPOA and beyond what is considered necessary for civilian uses.

Iran says it is developing only a civilian nuclear programme.

The US Office of the Director of National Intelligence assessed in 2024 (PDF) that Iran had the capability and infrastructure to produce weapons-grade uranium, if it wanted. In 2025, the Director judged (PDF) that Iran was “not building a nuclear weapon”. There has been domestic debate in Iran on whether to publicly commit to building a weapon, in response to the weakening of Iranian allies in the region, such as Hezbollah and Hamas, in 2023-25, and to counter the threat of Isreal attacks (Iran and Israel exchanged fire twice in 2024).

What is the status of the talks in 2025?

In April and May 2025, the United States and Iran held four sets of indirect talks, brokered by Oman. There is limited public information on their content and progress.

The Iranian Government has signalled it is willing to come to an agreement on its nuclear programme but have suggested wider issues such as its support for armed groups abroad are not up for discussion.

Several statements have been issued by US officials, suggesting issues being discussed including limits on Iran producing nuclear material domestically, its degree of enrichment of nuclear material, and removing existing nuclear stockpiles from Iran. Both China and Russia have defended Iran having its own civilian nuclear programme for peaceful purposes.

Iran and the US have acknowledged there are challenges remaining. President Trump has said the US is willing to take military and economic action if the talks fail. The US administration has announced further sanctions against Iran while the talks have been ongoing. Iran has criticized the new sanctions, saying they potentially undermine the negotiating process.

What is the UK and European approach?

The UK, Germany and France have backed the talks and say Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. All three say they are willing to reimpose the snapback sanctions measures against Iran before they expire in October 2024. In May 2025, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said a new deal must include Iran not having a nuclear weapon, reversing its enrichment and other escalatory activity, and implementation being verifiable.

How is the Middle East responding?

In contrast to 2015 and 2018, Arab Gulf states are now more united and supportive of a deal with Iran. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who have been in tension with Iran over its regional influence and backing for groups such as the Houthis in Yemen, who have attacked both states directly, are considered by analysts to be looking to contain and engage with Iran.

The Israeli Government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was critical of the 2015 agreement, welcomed US withdrawal in 2018, and has been cautious about talks in 2025. Media reports suggest Israel has prepared plans for military action against Iran, but the US has not backed these plans.