Iran's Nuclear Stance

Origins of Iran’s Nuclear Program

Iran has been a nuclear threshold state. However, it is known to possess the technology and resources to be able to build atomic weapons, it has tried multiple times to do so, and have consequently piled a substantial amount of enriched uranium, the main component required for the development of nuclear weapons, to make it capable of building the same much faster. During the 1980s, Iran began clandestine uranium enrichment with help from countries like China and Pakistan. It has stated for a long time that their nuclear programs are benign, but has undertaken decades of atomic work in secret, in violation of its NPT (Non-proliferation Treaty) obligations, which guarantees its members the right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Iran ran a covert weapons program (The Amad plan), aiming to develop nuclear weapons. Since this work was discovered, Iran has not been fully transparent about it with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations body tasked with monitoring compliance with the NPT.

Later in 2015, Iran, the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Russia, and China agreed to the “Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.” Under the JCPOA, Iran agreed to reduce its nuclear facilities; in return, the other nations agreed to lift economic sanctions, aiming to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. However, in 2018, President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the JCPOA deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran. Following the withdrawal of the US from the agreement, Iran too began Uranium enrichment again, going beyond the JCPOA limits. With these tensions increasing consistently, the need for a renewed or new agreement is more than ever.

After the United States’ withdrawal from the agreement and Iran’s gradual decrease in involvement in the same, Iran’s nuclear program has progressed with almost no obstacles. Although Iran’s capital, Tehran, is careful not to cross the line of military-grade enrichment (90 percent), the program has progressed without interruptions. While Iran is suffering from sanctions imposed on it following the US withdrawal, it hasn’t paid an additional price for its flagrant violation of the JCPOA.

Iran and the US hold nuclear talks in Oman

To move things forward and discuss the details of any possible deals, Iran and the US held a third round of in-depth discussion in Muscat, Oman, over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program on 26th April, 2025. This comes a week after a second round in Rome that both sides described as constructive.

The US and Iran made “very serious” progress during a new nuclear deal during marathon negotiations Saturday in Oman, with both sides exchanging written proposals for the first time and eyeing further talks as soon as next week. A senior US official said that the four-hour talks with Tehran were “positive and productive,” but still cautioned that “there is still much to do.” “We agreed to meet again soon, in Europe, and we thank our Omani partners for facilitating these talks,” the official added.

The talks highlight that both sides recognize the urgency to reach a consensus. Iran’s potential of enrichment program and the West’s fear of having another nuclear breakout are getting tenser.

Iran’s Nuclear Advancements

The report by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said that as of Feb. 8, Iran has 274.8 kilograms (605.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%. That’s an increase of 92.5 kilograms (203.9 pounds) since the IAEA’s last report in November. That material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. A report in November 2024 put the stockpile at 182.3 kilograms (401.9 pounds). It had 164.7 kilograms (363.1 pounds) last August. “The significantly increased production and accumulation of high enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear weapon State to produce such nuclear material, is of serious concern,” the confidential report stated.

According to the IAEA, approximately 42 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium is theoretically enough to produce one atomic bomb, if enriched further to 90%. The IAEA also estimated in its quarterly report that as of Feb. 8, Iran’s overall stockpile of enriched uranium stands at 8,294.4 kilograms (18,286 pounds), which represents an increase of 1,690.0 kilograms (3725.8 pounds) since the last report in November.

The Trump administration said Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons. “President Trump has put the Iran Regime on notice by reimposing Maximum Pressure and is committed to ensuring the regime never gets a nuclear weapon. He has also made clear he is open to talks with Iran to come to an agreement that fully addresses the outstanding issues between our two countries.” National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said.

Trump’s first term in office was marked by a particularly troubled period in relations with Tehran. In 2018, he unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, leading to sanctions hobbling the economy, and ordered the killing of the country’s top general.

Under the original 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium only up to 3.67% purity and maintain a stockpile of uranium of 300 kilograms.

Iran’s accelerated production of near weapons-grade uranium puts more pressure on Trump as he’s repeatedly said he’s open to negotiations with the Islamic Republic while also increasingly targeting Iran’s oil sales with sanctions as part of his reimposed “maximum pressure” policy.

After all this, there seems to be a more urgent atmosphere between the two countries to reach a consensus and prevent Iran’s nuclear goals from going further. Amid the advancing negotiations, the US president has threatened to bomb Iran if no new deal is reached soon enough to put an end to this dispute. Iran and the US plan to hold their next meeting on the issue on May 11th to move things forward. This reflects the importance of preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear-equipped nation, to avoid getting nuclear weapons in the hands of more people, and not start an arms race in the Middle East.

References

• U.S. and Iran hold expert talks over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program
• 2025 will be a decisive year for Iran’s nuclear program
• Timeline of the Iran nuclear deal
• A History of Iran's Nuclear Program
• Iran accelerates production of near weapons-grade uranium, IAEA says, as tensions with US ratchet up
• US and Iran make ‘very serious’ progress toward new nuclear deal after Oman talks, eye Europe next