Why the U.S. and Iran can't reach a peace deal | About That

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]After 6 weeks of war and a marathon negotiating session, what is actually keeping the US and Iran from reaching a peace deal? Well, two things. One, nuclear.

[00:00:11]>> Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.

[00:00:14]>> There's a lot of reporting on this citing various inside sources, but two demands that come up over and over again. Dismantle your enrichment facilities or what's left of them and the 400 kg of near bombgrade uranium you have. That's got to go. Give it up.

[00:00:30]>> We would like to get that material out of the country completely so that the United States has control.

[00:00:36]>> Then there are the kinds of details you would only ever know by being in the room. Some reports saying the US wants a 20-year suspension on Iranian nuclear activity, which could be a reference to enrichment, but to which Iran reportedly said, "How about 5 years, and maybe we'll dilute our highlyenriched uranium." The two sides have not yet reached a middle ground. But the other major point of contention is the straight of form moves. The US wants it fully reopened. All ships free to go through and definitely no tolls. But Iran hasn't been willing at all to give up its single biggest piece of leverage.

[00:01:15]So in exchange, it's asking for a lot.

[00:01:17]sanctions relief, the unblocking of frozen Iranian assets, and war reparations for all the infrastructure the US and Israel have blown up. Iran estimates it has suffered nearly $300 billion in damage to the country, and they want the US to pay up. Except as a package deal, this has all so far been a no-go for the US, which still sees reopening the straight not as a card to be played, but as a precondition for serious talks. So, that's where things stand. The really uncomfortable part though, if you're the US, after a month and a half of fighting, how to secure a deal that leaves the world in a better place than it was before the war started.