‘Any US-Iran nuclear deal is an illusion without proper checks’

Can the US and Iran strike a last-minute nuclear deal to end the war?

With the two-week ceasefire deadline expiring on Wednesday, peace talks are tentatively set to go ahead in Pakistan between US Vice President JD Vance and an Iranian delegation led by Mohammad Ghalibaf. Donald Trump has threatened to resume bombing if negotiations fail, but a major stumbling block remains: Iran’s nuclear programme. 

Washington wants Tehran to end all advanced uranium enrichment and give up its 450kg of “nuclear dust” that is currently buried under rubble. Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, tells foreign editor Louis Emanuel that without proper verification on the ground, any agreement will be an “illusion”. 

Meanwhile, senior foreign correspondent Memphis Barker explains how the "ghost" of the previous Iran nuclear agreement - Barack Obama's 2015 JCPOA - looms large over everything. Can Trump strike a better deal now than the one he tore up in 2018?

Plus, Roland Oliphant runs through the latest updates and news from across the region, including what is going on in the Strait of Hormuz and some clarity on when the ceasefire actually ends.  

Highlights:

• Rafael Grossi, head of the IAEA, on why a nuclear deal with Iran is tricky but doable
• Why the ghost of Obama’s 2015 Iran nuclear deal looms over peace talks

CONTRIBUTORS:

Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant

Memphis Barker, senior foreign correspondent @memphisbarker

Louis Emanuel, foreign editor @louisjemanuel

Rafael Grossi, director general IAEA @rafaelmgrossi

CONTENT REFERENCED:

Exclusive interview: World faces new nuclear arms race

Why Obama’s Iran nuclear deal looms large over Trump’s negotiations

Producer: Peter Shevlin

Executive Producer: Louisa Wells

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