The nuclear deal process with Iran has become a new topic of debate within the U.S. administration due to disagreements among senior officials. It was reported that CIA Director John Ratcliffe conveyed serious doubts to President Donald Trump and some officials about whether Iran is ready to make the concessions demanded.
The report stated that these doubts are based on information gathered by several U.S. intelligence agencies. According to assessments, the course of negotiations within Iran did not fully align with the messages Tehran conveyed to mediators and Washington.
The disagreement was not limited to the intelligence side. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth also viewed the likelihood of the deal happening with skepticism, while Vice President JD Vance and Trump’s representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner supported the process.
Before announcing the deal, Trump reportedly discussed intelligence assessments with senior advisors, with conflicting interpretations of Iran’s stance emerging during meetings. The White House emphasized that the president listened to all opinions but will make the final decision himself.
Statements from within the administration highlighted that Iran should never possess nuclear weapons, cannot retain highly enriched uranium, and must not use global energy supplies as leverage. It was also argued that Trump would only approve a deal favorable to the U.S.
The report noted that the nuclear provisions in the memorandum of understanding signed on Sunday aim to reach a more detailed agreement within the next 60 days. Accordingly, Vance, Witkoff, and Kushner are expected to meet next Friday with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and mediators from Pakistan and Qatar.
An American source said both sides committed to resolving the issue of enriched uranium stockpiles and to framing future enrichment and other nuclear needs within a final agreement. The source added that the negotiated framework allows Iran to maintain its nuclear program as is during ongoing talks, while the U.S. will not impose new sanctions or send additional troops to the region.
According to the text, if a final agreement is reached, the U.S. will withdraw its forces assigned for war within 30 days and lift all sanctions on Iran according to a set timetable. The initial memorandum consists of 14 articles, though the full text has not been published.
Some American officials opposing the deal argued that Iran would not sign a nuclear agreement under Washington’s imposed conditions and would gain more from the process. Conversely, two officials supporting the deal said all benefits Iran gains depend on significant steps taken.
Another American official stated that Iran’s seriousness about nuclear concessions will become clear within two or three weeks; otherwise, the process could stall without major gains for Iran. Supporters of the deal view it as a long-term initiative that can only succeed if Iran dismantles its nuclear program and pursues comprehensive internal reforms.
