As Trump weighs Iran strikes, possible nuclear opening emerges

WASHINGTON — Iran is reportedly reviewing a proposal tied to its nuclear program, raising hopes the two sides can avoid a return to full-blown war that President Donald Trump has threatened to launch after the midterms. For months, Tehran has insisted it will not hold talks on its nuclear program until Washington meets its demands, which include sanctions relief and the release of billions of dollars in frozen assets. But the New York Times reported Thursday that Iranian officials were reviewing “concrete proposals” delivered by the mediators related to its nuclear program, suggesting a renewed willingness to engage on the issue.

The apparent momentum in the talks comes after Democrats swept control of Congress in the midterms, an outcome Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday attributed to the war’s unpopularity . Qatar has led mediation efforts over a deal that would involve Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for US concessions, including the lifting of its naval blockade on Iranian ports. During a phone call with Trump on Friday, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani “emphasized the importance of continuing dialogue and embracing diplomacy as a means of resolving disputes; preventing further escalation in the region,” according to Qatar’s state news agency.

The interim agreement reached between Tehran and Washington in mid-June was intended to pave the way for negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program but collapsed soon afterward. Rather than defer the issue, the Trump administration is currently seeking upfront concessions on Iran's nuclear program, much of which was damaged during US strikes in June 2025. Of primary concern to the United States is Iran’s possession of 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium that, if further enriched, could be used to develop as many as 11 nuclear weapons.

The majority of the stockpile is believed to be stored underground at Iran’s Isfahan complex. The Trump administration is also seeking access for international inspectors after Iran barred the International Atomic Energy Agency from its main nuclear sites at Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz following US strikes last year. The IAEA also lacks access to the nuclear facility known as Pickaxe Mountain, fueling concerns that the site Iran says is a centrifuge assembly plant could have other covert purposes, such as uranium enrichment.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to target Pickaxe Mountain should strikes resume.