Trump aims to end Iran war but nuclear issue remains unresolved

Trump aims to end Iran war but nuclear issue remains unresolvedImage source, Getty ImagesByTom EdgingtonBBC VerifyPublished13 June 2026Updated 15 June 2026After weeks of promises from President Donald Trump, a deal to end the US-Iran war is set to be signed on Friday.It is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in return for the US lifting its blockade on Iranian shipping. However, key questions remain about what it will say about Iran's nuclear programme, including its uranium enrichment - a key component of a nuclear weapon.There is expected to be a period of further negotiations on nuclear issues but the deal is likely to be judged against the 2015 agreement negotiated by the Obama administration and other nations, and later abandoned by Trump. What discussions were held before the war?Both sides were already engaged in discussions about Iran's nuclear programme before the war started on 28 February. Talks in Oman on 6 February were described by Iran as a "good beginning". However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said discussions would have to go beyond the nuclear issue for "something meaningful" to be achieved.On 17 February, following further talks in Geneva, Iran said it had reached "an understanding" with the US and Washington said "progress was made".Two day later, however, Trump warned that Iran had to make a meaningful deal, "otherwise bad things happen". Ahead of a further round of talks on 26 February, Iran said an agreement was "within reach". But Trump said: "They're not willing to give us what we have to have."Talks were set to resume in Vienna, but were called off after the US-Israeli strikes. Former UK ambassador to Iran Sir Simon Gass says the conflict "hasn't resolved the nuclear issue" and argues that Trump's agreement "takes you back not to the days of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, but actually to the position before 28 February."...