US and Iran fail to agree in Vienna nuclear talks

The United States and Iran are still talking past each other in weeks of indirect negotiations aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, according to analysts tracking the stalled talks. The latest round of discussions in Doha ended last week with no breakthrough, despite both sides saying they remained committed to reaching an agreement. Richard Weitz, a senior fellow at NATO Defence College, told Al Jazeera that Washington cannot accept some of Tehran’s “hardline demands,” deepening the impasse.

The breakdown reflects broader tensions that have simmered since former President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 and reimposed economic sanctions. Iran responded by gradually breaching the deal’s nuclear limits, enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels. President Joe Biden has sought to restore the agreement but faces domestic political opposition, including from Republicans and some Democrats who argue Iran cannot be trusted. Meanwhile, Iran insists on sanctions relief and guarantees that future U.S. administrations won’t abandon the deal again.

Behind the scenes, indirect talks—conducted through European intermediaries—have failed to bridge gaps over Iran’s demand for guarantees against future U.S. withdrawals and Washington’s insistence that Tehran curb its ballistic missile program and regional influence. A senior U.S. official said last month that Iran’s demands had become “more maximalist” over time, complicating any compromise. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani recently accused the U.S. of “duplicity,” saying Washington’s approach lacked seriousness.

Without a deal, both sides risk further escalation. Iran could accelerate its nuclear activities, pushing it closer to weapons capability, while the U.S. may tighten sanctions or expand military deployments in the Gulf. European diplomats warn that without progress, the region could face a dangerous new crisis. Analysts say time is running out—both sides need a face-saving formula before Iran’s June presidential election reshapes its leadership and potentially hardens its stance.