The nuclear deal process with Iran within the US administration has turned into a new topic of debate due to disagreements among senior officials.
The report stated that CIA Director John Ratcliffe conveyed serious doubts to President Donald Trump and some officials about whether Iran is ready to make the desired concessions. These assessments were based on information gathered by several American intelligence agencies.
Divergent Views Within the Administration
The disagreement was not limited to the intelligence sector. It was noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth were skeptical about the likelihood of the deal, while Vice President JD Vance and Trump’s representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner supported the process.
Before announcing the deal, Trump reportedly discussed intelligence assessments with senior advisors, with conflicting interpretations of Iran’s stance emerging during the meetings. The White House emphasized that the president listened to all opinions but would make the final decision himself.
Framework of the Agreement
Statements from within the administration highlighted that Iran should never possess nuclear weapons, cannot hold highly enriched uranium, and cannot use global energy supply as leverage. It was argued that Trump would only approve a good deal favorable to the US.
The report indicated that the agreement document signed on Sunday aims to reach a more detailed deal on nuclear materials within the next 60 days. According to this, JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner are expected to meet next Friday with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.
An American source said both sides committed to resolving the issue of enriched uranium stockpiles and to framing future enrichment and other nuclear needs within a final agreement. The same source added that the negotiated framework allows Iran to maintain its nuclear program as is during ongoing talks, while the US will not impose new sanctions or send additional troops to the region.
According to the text, if a final agreement is reached, the US will withdraw its forces assigned for war within 30 days and lift all sanctions against Iran according to a set schedule. The initial agreement consists of 14 articles, though the full text has not been published.
Some American officials opposing the deal argued that Iran would not sign a nuclear agreement under Washington’s imposed conditions and would gain more from the process. Conversely, two officials supporting the deal said all benefits Iran gains depend on significant steps taken by Tehran.
Another American official stated that Iran’s seriousness about nuclear concessions will become clear within two or three weeks; otherwise, the process could stall without major gains for Iran. Supporters of the deal say it is a long-term initiative that can only succeed if Iran dismantles its nuclear program and pursues comprehensive internal reforms.
