Iran still open to nuclear deal despite US and Israeli strikes - WP

Officials in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump believe that Tehran remains open to an agreement on its nuclear program despite strikes by the U.S. and Israel, The Washington Post (WP) newspaper writes, citing an undisclosed source.

“Officials in the Trump administration believe that Iran is open to a diplomatic agreement on its nuclear program even after the U.S. and Israeli strikes, which brought the current negotiations to a halt,” the article states.

Since the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, Iran's nuclear program has advanced rapidly, raising alarms about its proximity to nuclear weapons capability. In 2024, Iran installed advanced centrifuges at its Natanz and Fordow facilities, boosting enrichment capacity.

In 2025, the Trump administration pursued a dual strategy of diplomacy and military pressure.

On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a surprise attack on Iranian nuclear and military targets, dubbed "Operation Rising Lion," citing intelligence that Iran was nearing nuclear weapons capability. This was followed by U.S. strikes on June 21–22, codenamed "Operation Midnight Hammer," targeting three key nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The U.S. deployed 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, or "bunker buster" bombs, to hit the deeply buried Fordow facility, aiming to disrupt Iran's enrichment capacity. President Trump claimed the strikes "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program, but early U.S. intelligence assessments suggested the damage was limited, setting back Iran's program by only a few months to 1–2 years.  

Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel, injuring dozens and escalating the conflict. A fragile ceasefire was brokered by the Trump administration on June 24, 2025, halting direct hostilities. Both sides claimed victory: Israel asserted it had crippled Iran's nuclear ambitions, while Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted the nuclear program continued unabated.

By Khagan Isayev