US-Iran Nuclear Talks Edge Forward as Enrichment Dispute Stalls Final Agreement

Benzinga reported Thursday that President Donald Trump praised Iran as skilled negotiators in a pre-recorded interview while his vice president signaled a final Iran nuclear deal remains incomplete over unresolved enrichment language.

Trump Draws a Red Line on Deal Terms

Speaking to Fox News host Lara Trump ahead of a Saturday broadcast, Trump described Iranian negotiators as crafty but insisted Washington holds decisive leverage. He pointed to recent military engagements as evidence of American strength at the table. Trump was explicit about consequences for a bad outcome. Any agreement that fails to serve US interests would, in his view, justify returning to military options.

Vice President JD Vance added detail at Joint Base Andrews. He told reporters both delegations are still working through a small number of language points. Chief among them are rules governing Iran’s future enrichment activity and the fate of its existing highly enriched uranium stockpile.

Enrichment Stockpile Sits at the Heart of the Dispute

Earlier reporting had suggested Tehran conditionally agreed to surrender its highly enriched uranium supply. That concession now appears less certain. Prediction market platform Polymarket assigned just a 22% probability to the United States taking physical custody of that stockpile before year-end, reflecting broad skepticism that the terms will hold.

Neither Trump nor Iran’s Supreme Leader has formally signed any tentative framework, underscoring how fragile the current moment remains.

Gulf Military Activity Raises the Stakes

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The diplomatic push is unfolding against a backdrop of active hostilities. US forces conducted what Central Command described as defensive strikes against Iranian missile installations and mine-laying vessels earlier this week. Iran responded by firing ballistic missiles toward Kuwait, all of which were intercepted, according to US military officials.

The parallel tracks of negotiation and military confrontation have kept pressure on energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of global oil shipments transit, remains a focal point for traders monitoring potential supply disruption.

Economic Warning Adds Urgency to a Resolution

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Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi warned this week that prolonged disruption to Hormuz traffic could push recession probability meaningfully higher. He described the current US economy as not merely soft but actively struggling, suggesting the margin for a protracted standoff is thin.

A deal announcement has been described as imminent by officials close to the talks. Whether the enrichment language can be resolved in time remains the defining question.

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