The United States and Iran are displaying renewed flexibility in efforts to revive a nuclear agreement, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the Financial Times in an interview published Thursday. Fidan, who has engaged with both Washington and Tehran, said the atmosphere surrounding negotiations appears more pragmatic than in recent months.
According to Fidan, Washington now seems willing to tolerate limited Iranian uranium enrichment within clearly defined boundaries, while Tehran recognizes the need to reach a compromise with the United States.
Shifting Positions in Washington and Tehran
The United States has previously insisted that Iran relinquish its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, which is close to weapons-grade level. Iran, meanwhile, has maintained that enrichment is its sovereign right and has demanded the lifting of financial sanctions.
Fidan indicated that Iran may be open to accepting caps on enrichment levels and a strict international inspection regime, similar to the framework established under the 2015 nuclear agreement. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reiterated that sanctions relief remains central to any potential deal.
Rising Regional Tensions
The diplomatic efforts come against a backdrop of heightened military signaling. U.S. and Iranian diplomats met last week in Oman through Omani mediation to revive talks. At the same time, President Donald Trump deployed a naval flotilla to the region and is considering sending a second aircraft carrier, moves that have fueled concerns of possible escalation.
Fidan warned that expanding negotiations to include Iran’s ballistic missile program could derail progress and risk triggering further conflict.
Personal Analysis
Fidan’s remarks suggest that both Washington and Tehran may be recalibrating their negotiating positions after years of stalemate and brinkmanship. The apparent U.S. willingness to tolerate limited enrichment reflects a recognition of political and technical realities: completely dismantling Iran’s enrichment capacity is unlikely without regime-level concessions Tehran will not make.
For Iran, economic pressures and the need for sanctions relief may be driving a more pragmatic approach. Accepting capped enrichment under intrusive inspections could provide Tehran with economic breathing space while preserving national pride.
However, the simultaneous deployment of U.S. naval assets underscores the fragile nature of the talks. Military pressure and diplomacy are moving in parallel, creating both leverage and risk. If missile capabilities are folded into negotiations, as some U.S. officials have suggested, the talks could become significantly more complicated.
Ultimately, progress will depend on whether both sides prioritize a limited, workable nuclear arrangement over maximalist demands. The current flexibility is promising, but the window for a durable compromise remains narrow and politically sensitive on both sides.
With information from Reuters.
