For years, Donald Trump called the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran one of the worst deals in history. He withdrew from it, imposed crushing sanctions, and promised “maximum pressure.”
Now? His administration is quietly rolling back some of those same sanctions, talking about inspections again, and trying to convince Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after tensions nearly spiraled into a broader war.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials are making clear they haven’t agreed to nearly as much as Washington says they have.
Trump Suddenly Changes Course on Iran
The Trump administration temporarily lifted oil sanctions against Iran, allowing Tehran to sell oil in U.S. dollars for the first time in years.
According to reports, the 60-day sanctions exemption came after negotiations in Switzerland led by Vice President JD Vance.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the move as the product of “ongoing productive talks.”
The reversal marks a dramatic shift from Trump’s long-standing “maximum pressure” campaign.
JD Vance Claims Victory. Iran Says Not So Fast.
Vice President JD Vance claimed Iran had agreed to allow United Nations inspectors access to its nuclear facilities, calling it a major breakthrough.
Trump echoed those claims on social media, declaring that Iran would accept “major weapons inspections.”
There was one problem.
Iran says that’s news to them.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tehran had made “no new commitments” regarding nuclear inspections and insisted any cooperation would occur under existing procedures.
So while Washington is celebrating a diplomatic victory, Iranian officials appear to be reading from an entirely different script.
The Strait of Hormuz Remains a Major Question
Trump administration officials also claimed progress had been made toward stabilizing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.
New communication channels have reportedly been established to de-escalate tensions in both the Strait and neighboring Lebanon.
But confusion remains.
The United States says the route is effectively reopening.
Iran says the situation is more complicated.
NBC News perhaps summarized things best: “The answer is not straightforward.”
Trump Is Quietly Reviving Parts of Obama’s Nuclear Deal
Here’s where things get awkward.
The very inspections and sanctions relief being discussed now closely resemble key pieces of the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated during the Obama administration.
Trump withdrew from that deal in 2018 and repeatedly attacked it, calling it one of the worst agreements ever signed.
After withdrawing, Iran gradually reduced cooperation with international inspectors. Relations deteriorated further after strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Now, some of those same mechanisms are being resurrected under a different name.
Politics is funny that way.
Iran Gains Economic Relief
The temporary sanctions waiver gives Iran access to U.S. dollars and allows the sale of oil and petrochemical products through August.
Reports also indicate discussions surrounding billions in frozen Iranian assets.
For Tehran, the economic benefits are significant.
For critics, the move represents a remarkable reversal by an administration that once promised there would be no concessions.
Everyone Is Calling It Progress
Officials from Qatar and Pakistan, who helped mediate the talks, described negotiations as encouraging.
JD Vance said discussions had created a strong foundation for a final peace agreement.
“This is a work in progress,” Vance said.
That might be the most accurate description anyone has offered.
Because while Washington is celebrating a breakthrough, Tehran is denying key parts of the story.
And for now, nobody seems entirely sure whether this is the beginning of a lasting peace or merely another ceasefire built on competing press releases.