In his first term (2017-2021), former President Donald Trump took a bold step that would reshape U.S.-Iran relations for years to come. Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, a deal that placed strict limits on Tehran’s disputed nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. This decision sent shockwaves through the international community and marked the beginning of a sharp turn in the ongoing standoff over Iran’s nuclear program.
Soon after, Trump reimposed sweeping sanctions on Iran, putting intense economic pressure on the Islamic Republic. In the years following, Tehran far surpassed the limits set by the original deal, escalating its uranium enrichment program. These moves, which include increasing the level of fissile purity of uranium, have further stoked tensions between Iran and Western powers.
Despite repeated warnings from the U.S. and its allies, Tehran has continued to reject calls to return to negotiations, brushing aside Trump’s demands to either strike a deal or face military consequences. Western powers have accused Iran of pursuing a covert nuclear weapons program under the guise of its civilian atomic energy ambitions. They argue that Iran’s uranium enrichment efforts far exceed what would be necessary for a purely peaceful nuclear program.
On the other hand, Tehran insists that its nuclear program is solely intended for civilian energy purposes, maintaining that the enrichment activities are necessary for the country’s energy needs. The ongoing conflict between these divergent claims continues to drive a wedge between Iran and the international community, with the situation showing little sign of de-escalation.
