US President Donald Trump on Friday set a fresh condition for reviving nuclear talks with Iran, demanding Tehran suspend uranium enrichment and remove nuclear fuel for two decades. Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump framed the 20-year suspension as the minimum acceptable commitment from Iran to prove its seriousness about rejoining a revived nuclear accord.

The demand marks a sharp departure from previous diplomatic efforts led by his administration. During his presidency, Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), citing concerns over weak enforcement and sunset clauses. His latest stance could further complicate indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran, which have stalled for months amid escalating regional tensions.

Trump’s comments came as his administration intensifies pressure on Iran through sanctions and diplomatic isolation. The US has repeatedly accused Tehran of expanding its nuclear program beyond JCPOA limits, while Iran insists its activities remain within legal boundaries. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported increased uranium enrichment levels, raising concerns about Iran’s nuclear advancements.

Iran rejects new demands

Iranian officials quickly dismissed Trump’s latest conditions as unrealistic and politically motivated. Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said Tehran would not accept preconditions that undermine its sovereignty or violate the principles of any future agreement. He reiterated Iran’s position that all sanctions must be lifted before any new talks can proceed.

The stalemate threatens to derail months of indirect negotiations in Doha and Vienna, where European mediators have struggled to bridge gaps between Washington and Tehran. Analysts warn the impasse could push Iran closer to nuclear threshold capability, while the US risks losing leverage as global attention shifts to other crises.

Regional allies react cautiously

Saudi Arabia and Israel, both opposed to a revived JCPOA, have cautiously welcomed Trump’s tougher stance. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long argued that Iran’s nuclear program poses an existential threat to the region. Meanwhile, European diplomats continue urging restraint, warning that further escalation could trigger a military or cyber confrontation.

Trump’s demand for a 20-year freeze contrasts with the original JCPOA, which imposed temporary restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities. The 2015 deal allowed enrichment limits to gradually expire, a provision critics say enabled Tehran to accelerate its program after the US withdrawal. Iran currently enriches uranium up to 60% purity, far exceeding JCPOA limits and approaching weapons-grade levels.

What happens next

With Trump’s demand now part of the public negotiating framework, the path to a revived deal appears narrower than ever. The US State Department has not indicated whether it will soften its position, while Iran shows no signs of backing down. Analysts predict the standoff could persist through the US presidential election cycle, with both sides unlikely to make concessions ahead of November’s vote.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: BBC News
  • Published: May 15, 2026 at 21:17 UTC
  • Category: World
  • Topics: #bbc · #world-news · #international · #war · #nuclear · #weapons

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 15, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

O ex-presidente dos Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, voltou a redefinir sua posição sobre o acordo nuclear iraniano com uma exigência radical: Teerã deve congelar por 20 anos seu enriquecimento de urânio e suspender o uso de combustível nuclear, sob pena de não haver qualquer avanço nas negociações. A proposta, anunciada após anos de instabilidade diplomática, chega em um momento crítico, quando as tensões entre Washington e Teerã seguem escalando e os esforços para reviver o pacto de 2015, abandonado por Trump na época, estão praticamente paralisados.

A exigência de um “congelamento nuclear” por duas décadas representa uma virada ainda mais dura em relação ao posicionamento anterior dos EUA, que já haviam imposto sanções severas ao Irã após a saída do acordo. Para o Brasil e os países lusófonos, a situação é especialmente relevante, pois afeta a estabilidade do Oriente Médio, região estratégica para o comércio de commodities e a segurança energética global, além de impactar diretamente o fluxo de petróleo, insumo crucial para a economia brasileira. Além disso, a postura de Trump pode reacender debates sobre a eficácia dos acordos internacionais e o papel das potências ocidentais na mediação de conflitos regionais, temas que frequentemente ganham destaque na imprensa brasileira.

Se os iranianos rejeitarem a proposta, as negociações podem entrar em colapso definitivo, com consequências imprevisíveis para o mercado global e a segurança internacional.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

El expresidente estadounidense Donald Trump ha redefinido su postura sobre el programa nuclear iraní, exigiendo un congelamiento de 20 años en la producción de uranio enriquecido y combustible nuclear, un giro que intensifica la presión sobre unas negociaciones ya estancadas. Su propuesta, lejos de buscar un acercamiento diplomático, introduce un plazo tan prolongado que parece más un ultimátum que una base negociadora, dejando en suspenso el futuro del acuerdo nuclear con Irán.

La exigencia de Trump, que contradice los términos del pacto alcanzado en 2015 y abandonado por él mismo en 2018, eleva el riesgo de un nuevo conflicto en Oriente Medio. Para los países hispanohablantes, especialmente aquellos con intereses energéticos o comerciales en la región, la escalada podría traducirse en un aumento del precio del petróleo o en una mayor inestabilidad geopolítica. Además, la retórica unilateralista del exmandatario refuerza la percepción de un Estados Unidos volátil, lo que podría complicar las alianzas internacionales y generar incertidumbre en las economías emergentes.