The interim agreement between the United States and Iran is expected to open a 60-day window for negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear programme, but major questions remain over whether the two longtime adversaries can bridge deep differences on the issue that has long dominated their relations.
US President Donald Trump has said preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was a central reason behind the war launched alongside Israel in February. However, the tentative deal announced by Washington leaves the most contentious nuclear issues to be resolved in future talks.
Under the preliminary agreement, Iran is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international oil shipments and will be permitted to resume unrestricted oil exports, according to US and regional officials.
The accord, scheduled to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday, also envisages Iran receiving at least $300 billion for post-war reconstruction and includes a US commitment to work toward lifting American and UN sanctions on Tehran if a final nuclear agreement is reached.
The framework agreement has triggered skepticism among lawmakers from both major US political parties, pro-Israel groups and Israeli officials, many of whom question whether a comprehensive nuclear deal can be achieved within the proposed timeline.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime Trump ally and advocate of a hardline policy toward Iran, said the success of any future agreement would depend on Tehran’s willingness to halt uranium enrichment.
“What would a good deal look like? No enrichment. And we’ll see if we can get there,” Graham said, while expressing uncertainty over the prospects of reaching a second-stage agreement.
Analysts have also questioned whether the Trump administration can sustain the intensive diplomatic effort required for a complex nuclear accord.
David Schenker, director of the Arab Politics Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a former senior State Department official, said nuclear negotiations require sustained attention, technical expertise and detailed engagement.
He argued that reaching a comprehensive agreement would be challenging even if the interim deal is formally signed.
The administration, however, remains confident that the phased structure of the agreement will ensure Iranian compliance.
Vice President JD Vance said many technical aspects still need to be negotiated, but stressed that any economic benefits for Iran would depend on concrete actions rather than promises.
“Our plan under this deal is that the Iranians are getting a lot of benefits so long as they dismantle that nuclear weapons programme,” Vance said in a podcast interview.
He added that the agreement is designed to link incentives such as sanctions relief to measurable steps taken by Tehran.
Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is intended for peaceful purposes and denies seeking nuclear weapons.