The Trump administration has demanded significant revisions to the nuclear agreement with Iran, according to multiple US media outlets, amid signs of internal discord and a faltering negotiation strategy. The development marks a sharp escalation in the administration's approach, as it seeks to renegotiate terms of the accord originally signed in 2015.
White House officials have conveyed to European allies that the President is pushing for a fundamentally different framework, one that includes tighter restrictions on Iran's ballistic missile programme and a more intrusive inspections regime. The demands, which go beyond the scope of the original Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, have been met with resistance from Tehran and scepticism among European signatories.
The move comes as the administration struggles to articulate a coherent policy on Iran. Reports from Washington suggest a deep rift between the national security team and the State Department, with the former favouring a harder line and the latter advocating for diplomatic engagement. This internal friction has left European allies frustrated, as they attempt to salvage a deal that the US has already withdrawn from once.
Iranian officials have reacted cautiously, with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stating that Tehran would not accept any renegotiation of the existing terms. “The JCPOA is a multilateral agreement, not a unilateral concession,” Zarif said in a press conference on Tuesday. “Any attempt to rewrite it would be met with a firm response.”
The strategic implications of this development are significant. A collapse of the nuclear deal would likely accelerate Iran's enrichment programme, bringing it closer to weapons-grade capability. It would also further isolate the United States on the international stage, undermining its credibility as a negotiating partner. For the European Union, which has invested considerable diplomatic capital in preserving the agreement, the US demands represent a direct challenge to the multilateral order.
The White House has not officially commented on the reports, but sources close to the administration have indicated that the President is unlikely to compromise. “He feels the original deal was a disaster, and he’s not going to accept a watered-down version,” a senior official told the Washington Post on condition of anonymity.
As the situation evolves, the international community watches closely. The stakes could not be higher: a failure to resolve the impasse may set off a chain reaction of regional instability, from the Strait of Hormuz to the borders of Syria and Iraq.
