Iran is reportedly weighing the possibility of presenting a temporary nuclear deal to the United States as a stepping stone toward a broader, more permanent arrangement, according to a report by Axios on Thursday. The outlet cited a European diplomat and a source with knowledge of the internal discussions in Tehran.
This development comes as the White House intensifies diplomatic pressure, with President Donald Trump giving negotiators a 60-day window to secure a renewed nuclear agreement with Iran. At the same time, the U.S. has increased its military presence in the region, a move widely interpreted as a contingency plan in case diplomatic efforts falter.
If talks fail to yield tangible results, Trump may consider launching a military offensive aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure—or may support Israel in conducting such an operation.
Sources familiar with Tehran’s internal strategy told Axios that Iranian officials do not see a full, detailed nuclear agreement being finalized within Trump’s tight timeline. Instead, they are hoping to buy time and lower the chances of a swift escalation in tensions.
Ali Vaez, who heads the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, told Axios, “The Iranians seem to believe that a sustainable deal is unlikely to be achieved in the timeframe that President Trump has in mind. It might therefore be necessary to consider an interim agreement as a way station toward a final deal.”
Iran’s diplomatic mission to the United Nations declined to provide a statement when asked about the possible proposal.
According to Axios, the temporary deal under consideration may include limited measures such as a reduction in uranium enrichment levels, a decrease in Iran’s stockpile of 60% enriched uranium, and broader access for international inspectors. While these changes would only slightly delay Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon, some experts suggest they could create a more favorable environment for further negotiations.
The arrangement could also propose extending the “snapback” clause from the 2015 nuclear accord—the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—which allows UN sanctions to be reinstated automatically if Iran fails to comply. That mechanism is set to expire in October.
France, Germany, and the UK have already issued warnings to Tehran that they will activate the snapback provision if no progress is made by the end of June.
Still, Tehran is expected to seek an end to the Trump-era “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign as part of any interim deal. Whether the White House would agree to that remains uncertain.
Some officials in Washington are wary that Iran might use a temporary deal to delay serious negotiations while continuing its nuclear development behind the scenes. That skepticism could make the administration reluctant to move forward, Axios reported.
This news emerges ahead of a meeting scheduled for Saturday in Muscat, where U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will represent Washington and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will attend on behalf of Tehran.
Although President Trump has said the talks would be direct, Iranian officials clarified that the discussions will be conducted indirectly, without face-to-face interaction.
On Wednesday, Trump told reporters that if military intervention becomes necessary to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions, “Israel will be involved and even lead the effort.”
When asked about a specific deadline for reaching a deal with Iran, Trump responded, “I can’t really be specific, but when you start talks, you know if they’re going along well or not, and I would say the conclusion would be when I think they’re not going along well.”
{Matzav.com}