Trump skeptical of Iran deal, demands it cover missiles and more

U.S. President Donald Trump has cast uncertainty over the prospects for a new nuclear agreement with Iran, stating that any potential deal must address a broad range of issues beyond Tehran's atomic program. In an interview, Trump said Iran wants a deal but stressed that it "would have to be a good deal," encompassing "no nuclear weapons, no missiles, no this, no that."

Demands beyond the nuclear file

The president's comments outline a maximalist stance, indicating Washington would insist on restrictions covering Iran's ballistic missile program and other regional activities—demands Tehran has consistently rejected. Trump expressed skepticism about Iran's trustworthiness, calling the country "very dishonest," and launched a sharp attack on the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by the Obama administration, which he labeled "one of the dumbest deals I've ever seen."

Timing amid renewed diplomacy

These remarks come as the United States and Iran prepare for a second round of indirect negotiations following a meeting in Oman last Friday. The talks had been suspended for nearly eight months after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Despite the diplomatic opening, tensions remain high, fueled by a significant U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf and repeated threats of military action from the Trump administration.

Regional and global implications

Trump's public skepticism and expansive demands signal a challenging road ahead for the negotiations. For regional powers like Türkiye, which advocates for diplomatic solutions and stability, the difficulty in bridging U.S. and Iranian positions prolongs regional uncertainty. The stance also suggests that even if a nuclear understanding is reached, reaching a broader "good deal" as defined by Trump could prove politically impossible for the Iranian leadership.