Both the U.S. and Iran are coming to the table to discuss their nuclear disagreements. The U.S. and Iran began indirect talks in Geneva on Tuesday over their long-running nuclear dispute, with a senior Iranian official asserting that negotiations hinge on Washington avoiding unrealistic demands as the U.S. masses a battle force in the region.
“I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday. “We could have had a deal instead of sending the B-2s in to knock out their nuclear potential. And we had to send the B-2s.”
Trump said that he would be involved “indirectly” in the Geneva talks and that he believed Tehran wanted to make a deal.
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In June 2025, Israel launched a major military campaign against Iranian nuclear and military facilities, marking one of the most serious escalations between the two countries in decades. The strikes targeted strategic sites, including Natanz and other nuclear-linked facilities, and reportedly killed senior commanders and scientists.
Iran responded with ballistic missile and drone attacks on Israel, hitting civilian areas and infrastructure. The conflict lasted approximately 12 days, drawing international concern and prompting an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council.
Concurrently, Iran has faced widespread domestic protests since late 2025, driven by economic hardship, inflation, and the effects of international sanctions on oil revenue. Demonstrations spread to over 100 cities, with protesters demanding political reform and accountability. The Iranian government responded with severe crackdowns, including mass arrests, live ammunition, and a near-total internet blackout.
These overlapping crises — external military pressure and internal unrest — have intensified scrutiny on Iran’s leadership, weakened its domestic stability, and heightened regional tensions, with both military escalation and political upheaval shaping the country’s trajectory into 2026.
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Iran has joined the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which guarantees countries the right to pursue civilian nuclear power in return for requiring them to forgo atomic weapons and cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The ongoing situation highlights the complex interaction of diplomacy, military strategy, and domestic politics in shaping regional stability. The resumption of nuclear talks in Geneva demonstrates that dialogue remains the primary mechanism to prevent escalation, even amid prior conflicts.
Countries like Iran face the dual challenge of managing external threats while addressing domestic demands for economic relief and political reform. The protests demonstrate that public dissatisfaction can influence international negotiations indirectly by shaping leadership priorities and exposing vulnerabilities.