In May 2018, Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the Iran nuclear deal, sparking a chain of events that led to heightened tensions between the two nations. Fast forward to today, Trump, now in his second term as president, is seeking to mend the broken Iran deal that he previously dismantled. Despite his tumultuous foreign policy track record, Trump sees an opportunity to strike a new agreement with Iran, a feat that eluded his predecessor, Joe Biden.

Since Trump’s withdrawal from the original deal, Iran has advanced its nuclear capabilities, coming closer to possessing a nuclear weapon than ever before. This escalation prompted Trump to reach out to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressing a desire to negotiate a new deal. Trump’s approach included both public threats and indirect negotiations, facilitated by Oman.

Although the recent talks have shown promise, numerous hurdles remain in the path to a potential agreement. Key challenges include the differing stances on Iran’s nuclear program dismantling, with some advocating for a complete end and others favoring a verification-based approach similar to the 2015 deal. Amid these negotiations, the role of hardliners in Iran, Washington, and Israel, particularly under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu, looms large.

However, there is optimism that Trump’s transactional negotiation style, coupled with a shift in his administration’s composition away from neoconservative influences, could pave the way for a breakthrough in US-Iran relations. By navigating these complexities and potentially overcoming opposition from within his own circles, Trump may be on the brink of resolving the nuclear crisis he set in motion years ago.