US President Donald Trump on Sunday, 25 May 2025, publicly defended his administration's ongoing negotiations with Iran, drawing a sharp contrast with the 2015 Obama-era nuclear agreement and asserting that the current diplomatic process would prevent Tehran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon. Trump made the remarks in a post on Truth Social, framing the ongoing talks as a fundamental departure from his predecessor's approach.

Trump's Case Against the Obama Deal

Trump described the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), negotiated under former President Barack Obama, as 'one of the worst deals ever made by our Country.' He argued that the agreement had effectively created 'a direct path to Iran developing a Nuclear Weapon' — a characterisation long disputed by the deal's architects and international nuclear monitors, but one Trump has consistently maintained since withdrawing the US from the accord in 2018.

By contrast, Trump wrote of the current process: 'Not so with the transaction currently being negotiated with Iran by the Trump Administration — THE EXACT OPPOSITE, in fact!'

Key Developments in the Negotiations

The remarks followed Trump's announcement that a broad regional understanding involving Iran and several Middle Eastern nations was close to finalisation. He said he had held calls with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain as part of the diplomatic outreach.

Trump also confirmed a separate conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing discussions as progressing positively. He had earlier said a deal had been 'largely negotiated' between the United States, Iran, and regional partners.

Washington's Core Demand: No Nuclear Weapon

Trump reiterated that the US position is non-negotiable on one point. 'They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb,' he wrote. He also signalled that economic pressure on Tehran would remain in place until a formal agreement is completed, certified, and signed. 'The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed,' he stated.

At the same time, Trump described the bilateral relationship as moving in a more constructive direction. 'Our relationship with Iran is becoming a much more professional and productive one,' he said — a notable shift in tone given decades of hostility between Washington and Tehran.

Abraham Accords and a Wider Regional Vision

Trump linked the Iran diplomacy to the Abraham Accords — the US-brokered normalisation agreements between Israel and several Arab nations — and praised regional countries for their 'support and cooperation.' He went further, floating the possibility that Iran itself could eventually join the broader arrangement. 'And, who knows, perhaps the Islamic Republic of Iran would like to join, as well!' he wrote.

Trump also stressed that his team was proceeding deliberately. 'The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side,' he added. 'Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!'

What Comes Next

No timeline for a final agreement has been publicly confirmed. The talks represent one of the most consequential diplomatic efforts of Trump's second term, with regional stability, global oil markets, and nuclear non-proliferation all in the balance. Whether the current framework can produce a verifiable, enforceable accord — something critics argued the JCPOA failed to deliver — remains the central question as negotiations continue.