diplomacyMay 15, 2026

Trump Says Ready To Accept '20-Year Pause' In Iran's Nuclear Program

Summary

US President Donald Trump has hinted at a possible breakthrough in the long-running nuclear negotiations with Iran, saying a deal to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions could be within reach after months of heightened military tensions in the Gulf region. Trump had suggested that Iran may agree to halt uranium enrichment for up to 20 years as part of a broader agreement aimed at preventing the country from developing nuclear weapons. “Twenty years is enough,” Trump reportedly said, adding that if a deal is finalised, “they can't have nuclear weapons.” The renewed diplomatic push comes after a volatile phase earlier this year that saw intense confrontation between the US, Israel and Iran, including a US-led blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Iran has since reopened the critical oil shipping route, signalling a possible move towards de-escalation, although American naval presence in the region continues. ALSO READ: Iran's Araghchi Uses BRICS Platform To Call For UNSC Rejig, Flags 'Widespread Injustice' Reports indicate negotiators are discussing a 14-point memorandum designed to end the 2026 Gulf conflict, with provisions ranging from sanctions relief to guarantees that Iran will not pursue nuclear weapons capability. Media reports also claimed that a possible arrangement involving the release of $20 billion in frozen Iranian assets was under discussion in exchange for Tehran surrendering enriched uranium stockpiles, though Trump denied that any direct financial transfer would take place. Despite growing optimism from Washington, Iranian officials have questioned the seriousness of the US approach, saying key proposals remain unacceptable and negotiations remain fragile. ALSO READ: Iran 'Never Wanted Nuclear Weapon', Says Araghchi; Open To Offer Safe Hormuz Passage Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.

Perspectives

Iranian Official

The Iranian government sees US military posturing, including the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, as continued foreign aggression targeting its sovereign rights and regional security. Tehran has resisted these pressures by reopening the vital waterway on its own terms while defending its nuclear program as an inalienable national asset. Any future understandings must fully respect Iran's independence and reject imposed limits on its enrichment activities.

Israeli

From an Israeli security perspective, any potential nuclear agreement with Iran must confront the regime's existential threat to the Jewish state, sustained by its vast proxy network of Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis that encircle Israel with missiles and terror. The recent Gulf confrontations reflect the defensive necessity of sustained pressure, including naval actions, to block Tehran's path to nuclear weapons rather than risk a temporary 20-year enrichment pause that leaves stockpiles and breakout capacity intact. Israeli assessments view sanctions relief or asset releases as dangerous concessions that could empower the same Iranian apparatus responsible for repeated attacks on Israeli civilians.

Neutral

US President Donald Trump has stated that a deal with Iran to limit its nuclear program could be within reach, including a reported suggestion that Iran halt uranium enrichment for up to 20 years. Media reports have described ongoing talks on a 14-point memorandum covering sanctions relief and nuclear guarantees, as well as possible arrangements involving frozen Iranian assets, though Trump has denied any direct financial transfers. These developments follow earlier US-led actions in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran later reopened amid continued regional naval deployments.

Western

US President Trump has signaled advancing negotiations to neutralize Iran's nuclear threat, with Tehran potentially agreeing to halt uranium enrichment for up to 20 years under a deal that would permanently block weapons capability. This follows precise US-led actions, including the Strait of Hormuz blockade, which compelled Iran to reopen the strategic route while American naval forces maintain regional pressure. Talks focus on a 14-point framework offering sanctions relief for verifiable limits and uranium stockpile transfers, advancing Western objectives without direct financial concessions.

Pro-Peace

The recent US-Iran nuclear talks represent a vital diplomatic off-ramp from months of dangerous military posturing in the Gulf, where blockades and confrontations threatened to trigger wider conflict with severe humanitarian fallout for civilians across the region. Prolonged tensions have already exacted heavy costs through economic strangulation and disrupted trade routes, disproportionately harming ordinary populations via shortages and instability rather than resolving underlying issues. A 14-point agreement with sanctions relief and verified limits on enrichment could spare countless lives by prioritizing negotiation over escalation, underscoring that sustainable security lies in de-escalation, not force.

Global South

US pressure on Iran through Gulf blockades and sanctions reflects persistent neo-colonial interference aimed at curbing sovereign nuclear development, even as Tehran signals willingness to limit enrichment under duress. Negotiations over asset releases and a 14-point deal expose the failure of Western-dominated institutions like the UNSC to uphold equitable sovereignty, prompting Global South calls via BRICS for structural reform. Iran's reopening of the Strait of Hormuz underscores regional pushback against external control rather than genuine multilateral progress.

Actors involved

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Sources

NDTV Profit NewsBy NDTV Profit News
US President Donald Trump has hinted at a possible breakthrough in the long-running nuclear negotiations with Iran, saying a deal to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions could be within reach after months of heightened military tensions in the Gulf region. Trump had suggested that Ira…

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