Can the U.S. and Iran reach a nuclear deal to avert a war?
#Iran nuclear deal #Trump Iran policy #Middle East tensions #Nuclear negotiations #US military buildup #Diplomatic standoff #Iran enrichment program #Regional conflict
📌 Key Takeaways
- US and Iran held separate nuclear talks in Switzerland brokered by Oman
- Trump has threatened military action against Iran over its nuclear program
- Iran insists on its right to peaceful nuclear enrichment while Trump demands complete abandonment
- Experts warn war appears more likely than a deal given the wide gap between positions
- A military confrontation could lead to a prolonged regional conflict with uncertain outcomes
📖 Full Retelling
American and Iranian negotiators sat down separately in Switzerland on Thursday, February 26, 2026, for another round of talks brokered by Oman, focusing on Iran's nuclear program amid President Trump's looming threats of military action against Tehran. Iran maintains it does not intend to build a nuclear weapon, while Trump has repeatedly stated he will not allow Iran to acquire one, a position shared by his predecessors Obama and Biden. The Obama administration had previously negotiated an international deal to constrain Iran's nuclear enrichment program, but Trump attacked the pact as 'horrible' during his first term and withdrew the U.S. from the agreement. Since returning to the White House, Trump has threatened to strike Iran if it doesn't accept a new deal to curb its nuclear activities, despite warnings from many nations that such action could spark a major international conflict. The Trump administration has ordered the largest American military buildup in the Middle East in decades, pressuring Tehran to accept the terms he demands. Despite public expressions of optimism from Iranian officials, experts remain skeptical that the wide gap between the two sides' positions can be bridged through diplomacy.
🏷️ Themes
Nuclear Diplomacy, Middle East Tensions, US-Iran Relations, War vs. Diplomacy
📚 Related People & Topics
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Entity Intersection Graph
Connections for Nuclear program of Iran:
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Enriched uranium
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Donald Trump
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Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
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Diplomacy
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Ali Khamenei
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Original Source
World Can the U.S. and Iran reach a nuclear deal to avert a war? By Tucker Reals Tucker Reals Editor Tucker Reals is CBSNews.com's foreign editor, based in the CBS News London bureau. He has worked for CBS News since 2006, prior to which he worked for The Associated Press in Washington, D.C., and London. Read Full Bio Tucker Reals February 26, 2026 / 6:27 AM EST / CBS News Add CBS News on Google With President Trump's threat to attack Iran looming over the discussions, American and Iranian negotiators sat down again in Switzerland Thursday, separately, for another round of talks brokered by Oman, focusing on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. Iran says it does not have and will not build a nuclear weapon, and Mr. Trump has said he will not allow Tehran to acquire one — a position he shares with his recent predecessors Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The Obama administration spent months negotiating an international deal to constrain and monitor Iran's nuclear enrichment program . But during his first term, Mr. Trump attacked the pact as "horrible" and pulled the U.S. out . Since returning to the White House, Mr. Trump has threatened to strike Iran if it doesn't make a new deal to curb its nuclear activities. Despite warnings from many nations in the Middle East and elsewhere, including Iran, that any U.S. strike could spark a major international conflict, Mr. Trump has ordered the biggest American military buildup in the Middle East in decades, pressuring Tehran to make the deal he wants. Mr. Trump has given no indication about whether he's decided to use force as the talks continue, so CBS News asked people with deep knowledge of Iran and the country's hardline Islamic rulers to try to gauge the prospects of an agreement emerging from the talks to avert a war. What Iran and the Trump administration have said During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Mr. Trump repeated his claim that the U.S. "obliterated Iran's nuclear weapons program" with strikes in June...
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