Fact Check: "Tehran had been engaged in talks with the Trump administration on a deal to curb its nuclear programme to replace one that Mr Trump abandoned in 2018."
What We Know
The claim suggests that Tehran was in negotiations with the Trump administration regarding a new nuclear deal after the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018. President Trump announced the U.S. exit from the JCPOA, stating that the deal was "defective at its core" and that it did not adequately prevent Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons (source-1). Following this withdrawal, tensions escalated between the U.S. and Iran, leading to a series of confrontations and sanctions.
In the years following the U.S. exit from the JCPOA, there have been various reports of diplomatic efforts aimed at reviving or replacing the nuclear deal. For instance, in June 2025, U.S. and Iranian officials were scheduled to hold talks regarding Iran's uranium enrichment program, indicating ongoing diplomatic engagement (source-5). However, specific details about a formal negotiation process with the Trump administration during his presidency are not well-documented.
Analysis
The claim that Tehran was engaged in talks with the Trump administration is partially supported by the context of ongoing diplomatic efforts, but lacks concrete evidence of formal negotiations specifically aimed at replacing the JCPOA. The timeline of events shows that while there were discussions about Iran's nuclear program, the Trump administration's approach was characterized by a maximum pressure campaign rather than diplomatic engagement.
The reliability of sources discussing these negotiations varies. For example, the New York Times and AP News are generally regarded as credible news organizations, but their reporting on the specifics of negotiations can sometimes reflect broader political narratives (source-1, source-4). Additionally, the lack of direct quotes or statements from officials involved in the negotiations during Trump's administration makes it difficult to verify the extent and nature of any talks.
Moreover, the claim does not account for the significant geopolitical shifts and the complexities of U.S.-Iran relations during Trump's presidency, which were marked by heightened tensions and a lack of trust on both sides. The absence of a formal agreement or a clear framework for negotiations further complicates the assertion that talks were substantive.
Conclusion
Needs Research: The claim that Tehran was engaged in talks with the Trump administration about a new nuclear deal is not definitively supported by available evidence. While there were ongoing discussions about Iran's nuclear program, the specifics of formal negotiations during Trump's presidency remain unclear. Further investigation into diplomatic communications and official statements from that period is necessary to clarify the nature and extent of any talks.
Sources
- Trump Abandons Iran Nuclear Deal He Long Scorned - New York Times
- Teheran – Wikipedia - Wikipedia
- Tehran - Wikipedia - Wikipedia
- AP FACT CHECK: Trump vs. truth on the Iran nuclear deal - AP News
- Trump urges diplomatic solution with Iran but says Israeli ... - Reuters
- Israel attacks Iran’s capital with explosions booming across Tehran - AP News
- Israel Launches Attack on Iran as Tehran Scrambles Jets - New York Times
- U.S.-Iran Nuclear Deal: What Is Each Side After? - New York Times
