US President Donald Trump has stated he would be willing to accept a 20-year suspension of Iran's nuclear program, signaling a potential shift in the US’s approach towards Iran. In his comments, Trump insisted that this 20-year timeframe must be definite and credible, diverging from his prior position demanding an absolute end to nuclear enrichment activities.
Trump's remarks reflect growing impatience with Iran's lack of progress on negotiations. He highlighted that breakthrough talks are lacking, expressing skepticism about the current situation. The backdrop of these discussions includes military escalations, as US and Israeli forces have conducted significant air strikes on Iran while a ceasefire has reportedly been maintained with intermittent conflicts.
These developments come after Tehran issued proposals to halt the war on all fronts, including against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and to ensure no further military actions towards Iran. Despite these efforts, both the US and Iran have not found common ground on stopping hostilities.
During a press conference aboard Air Force One following talks in Beijing with President Xi Jinping of China, Trump reiterated that Iran must not be permitted to obtain nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, he emphasized the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil trade that Iran has been blocking, thereby influencing rising oil prices worldwide.
When prompted about whether a 20-year suspension was sufficient, Trump reiterated, Twenty years is enough, but the level of guarantee from them, in other words, it's got to be a real 20 years. This marks the first time Trump has mentioned a 20-year timeframe after Vice-President JD Vance indicated a preference for such a duration during negotiations in Pakistan.
In his previous term, Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration, citing objections to clauses that would permit constraints on Iran to lapse. Despite this recent proposal, reactions from Israel remain to be seen, with Prime Minister Netanyahu previously asserting that any completed deal must ensure Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium is dismantled.
