What is Iran’s nuclear program and what do the US and Israel want?

US and Iranian officials have had indirect conversations in the Oman capital, Muscat, to try to achieve a new deal because of the controversial Iran nuclear program.

Donald Trump removed the United States from a previous nuclear agreement between Iran and the world forces in 2018 and restored economic sanctions, angry Iran.

The US president warned of hostilities if the conversations fail.

Iran says his nuclear program is for civil purposes only.

He insists that he is not trying to develop nuclear weapons, but many countries – as well as the global nuclear guard, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – are not convinced.

Iran’s suspicions arose when the country was found to have secret nuclear facilities in 2002.

This violated an agreement called a contract for non -proliferation of nuclear variables (NPT), which Iran and almost all other countries have signed.

NPT allows countries to use non -military nuclear technologies – such as medicine, agriculture and energy – but does not allow the development of nuclear weapons.

As the United States withdrew from the existing nuclear transaction – known as the joint overall action plan or JCPOA – in 2018, Iran violated key commitments by avenging the decision to restore sanctions.

It has installed thousands of advanced centrifuges (purification machines) to enrich Uranus, something that is prohibited by JCPOA.

Nuclear weapons require uranium, which is enriched up to 90% purity. In JCPOA, Iran was allowed to own only up to 300 kg (600 pounds) uranium, enriched to 3.67% – sufficient for civil nuclear energy and research purposes, but not for nuclear bombs.

But by March 2025, IAE said that Iran had about 275 kg of uranium, which enriched up to 60% purity. This is enough to make a theoretically about half a dozen weapons if Iran further enriches uranium.

US officials have said Iran believes that Iran can turn this uranium into enough weapon material for a bomb in just a week. However, they also said it would take Iran between a year and 18 months to build a nuclear weapon. Some experts say that a “rough” device can be built in six months or less.

The UN, the US and the EU have imposed extensive economic sanctions on Iran since 2010 because of the suspicion that its nuclear program is used to develop a bomb.

The sanctions have stopped Iran selling oil on international markets and frozen $ 100 billion (£ 77 billion) from the country’s foreign assets. His economy was immersed in a recession and the value of his currency fell to record low levels, which in turn caused inflation to rise.

In 2015, Iran and six world powers – the United States, China, France, Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom – agreed to JCPOA after years of negotiations.

In addition to limiting what Iran was allowed to do with his nuclear program, he allowed the IAE to gain access to all Iran’s nuclear facilities and to check suspects.

In return, the powers agreed to cancel the sanctions.

JCPOA had to last up to 15 years, after which the restrictions would expire.

When Donald Trump took office in 2018, he removed the United States – who was a key pillar of the agreement.

He said it was a “bad deal” because it is not constant and does not deal with Iran’s ballistic missile program, among other things. Trump has again imposed US sanctions as part of the Maximum Pressure campaign to force Iran to negotiate a new and advanced agreement.

Trump’s decision was influenced by the regional allies of America, which were against the deal, mainly Israel.

Israel claims that Iran is still pursuing a hidden nuclear program and warned that Iran would use billions of dollars to relieve sanctions to strengthen its military activities.

Trump’s announcement about negotiations with Iran seems to be a surprise Israel. He has long said he would conclude a “better” deal from JCPOA, although Iran has so far rejected the renegotiation of the agreement.

Previously, Trump warned that if Iran had not made a new deal, “there will be bombing”.

His national security advisor Mike Waltz said Trump wants the “full dismantling” of Iran’s nuclear program, adding: “It’s enrichment, it’s a weapon and it’s his strategic missile program.”

Iran hopes a deal to restrict, but does not dismantle its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

“It is our intention to reach a fair and honorary agreement from the same position,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas.

Although Trump had said there would be “direct conversations”, Aragchi said talks in Oman were indirect, with only a brief conversation between him and the American envoy Steve Vicoff being held when they were leaving.

Aragchi said Iran is ready to engage with the United States, but Trump must first agree that there can be no “military option”.

Following Trump’s announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the only acceptable deal would include Iran to agree to remove his nuclear program. He said it means: “We are entering, we blow up the facilities and dismantle all the equipment under American supervision and execution.”

Israel’s most big fear will be that Trump can compromise on the full capitulation of Iran, which he could present as a diplomatic victory.

It is assumed that Israel, who has not signed NPT, has nuclear weapons, something that neither confirms nor denies. He believes that a nuclear armed Iran, who does not accept Israel’s right to exist, would be a significant threat.

Both the US and Israel have the military capabilities of bombing Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, but such an operation would be complex and risky, with an uncertain result.

Key nuclear sites are buried deep underground, which means that only the most powerful bombs that can develop can reach them. While the United States owns these bombs, Israel is unknown.

Iran will almost certainly protect itself, which may involve US assets in the region and launching missiles in Israel.

For surgery of this species, the US will probably have to use its bases in the bay, as well as aircraft carriers.

But countries like Qatar, which hosts the largest air base in the United States, may disagree to help him attack Iran, fearing revenge.