US President Donald Trump is set to host direct talks with Iranian officials in Oman this weekend, aiming to strike a new nuclear deal on more favorable terms. The move comes as tensions between the two nations remain high, and global economic instability looms.
Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) three years ago sparked widespread criticism and raised concerns about the stability of the region. Since then, Iran has faced numerous challenges, including economic sanctions, anti-government protests, and a devastating COVID-19 pandemic.
The US president claims that his new proposal will prevent Iran from developing 90% enriched uranium, which could be used to create a nuclear weapon. However, experts argue that this demand may be unrealistic, given Iran’s current position and the country’s history of resisting similar demands in the past.
“Even though the supreme leader said publicly ‘We won’t negotiate with a bully’, this is a similar position to the one Iran was in 2013,” says Scott Lucas, professor of international relations at University College Dublin. “What they want is the lifting of sanctions, point blank. They want to be able to trade, they want to be reconnected to the international system.”
The stakes are high, with the global economic crisis caused by Trump’s tariff policy threatening to exacerbate existing tensions. Iran’s economy is already struggling, with inflation rates soaring and infrastructure in disarray.
“The Iranian economy’s in deep trouble and inflation’s continuing to rise,” Lucas notes. “Officially they say it’s just under 35%, unofficially it’s probably way higher than that, especially for food and essentials.”
As the world watches, a new generation of nations is re-evaluating their nuclear policies. European countries are discussing sharing a deterrent, while Poland has even hinted at developing its own independent nuclear capability.
The US president’s latest push for a deal raises questions about the future of global security and the stability of the region. Will Trump’s proposal be enough to bring Iran back to the negotiating table, or will it fuel further tensions? Only time will tell.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/2025/04/09/japan-and-nato-vow-to-deepen-security-ties-to-counter-threats-from-china-and-russia