Negotiations between the United States and Iran have stalled, with both sides entrenched in conflicting positions. According to sources familiar with the discussions, Washington is pushing for wide-ranging talks that include Iran’s missile program and regional activities, while Tehran insists on focusing solely on its nuclear program.
“They said take it or leave it — and basically, Iran chose to leave it,” one source told reporters. Another added that Tehran could not even agree on a venue for a planned meeting in Istanbul, underscoring the deep mistrust between the two sides.
The breakdown comes amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the Middle East. Reports indicate that NATO’s Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany has shifted to a 24-hour operational cycle to support increased mission frequency. President Donald Trump warned that Iran’s Supreme Leader “should be very worried,” signalling Washington’s readiness to escalate if diplomacy fails.
Tensions escalated further on Tuesday when a U.S. fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone near the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, roughly 500 miles from Iran.
Despite earlier agreement to meet in Turkey with regional observers present, Tehran now demands a one-on-one negotiation with Washington. Analysts say this shift is aimed at avoiding scrutiny of Iran’s missile stockpiles and steering talks exclusively toward nuclear issues. Senior Iranian officials warned that U.S. resistance to limiting discussions could jeopardise future talks planned in Oman.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed he had authorised negotiations, but only under “a suitable environment free from threats and unreasonable expectations.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed this stance in a CNN interview, saying Tehran had lost trust in Washington but remained open to a nuclear deal.
The diplomatic impasse follows last year’s collapse of nuclear talks after Israel launched a 12-day bombing campaign against Iran, targeting nuclear and military facilities. Hundreds were killed, including senior commanders and scientists. The U.S. briefly joined the strikes, prompting Iranian retaliation with drone and missile attacks on Israel and a U.S. base in Qatar.
Since returning to the office in January, Trump has reinstated his “maximum pressure” sanctions policy, worsening Iran’s economic crisis. Protests over rising living costs erupted in December and quickly spread nationwide, leading to a deadly crackdown. Iranian officials admit to more than 3,000 deaths, while rights groups put the toll far higher. The Human Rights Activists News Agency reports at least 6,854 confirmed deaths and over 50,000 arrests linked to the unrest.
As both sides dig in, the prospect of renewed diplomacy appears dim. Washington insists on a comprehensive deal, while Tehran demands nuclear-only talks. With military deployments intensifying and mistrust deepening, the risk of confrontation looms larger than ever.