Iran Reviews a "Bridge Deal" to Restart Nuclear Talks: What It Means
Iran is reviewing proposals from mediators, led by Qatar, on its nuclear programme, according to regional officials.
The proposals include a short "bridge deal": a set of trust-building steps meant to open the way for full talks between the United States and Iran.
On the first day, the US would lift its blockade of Iranian ports and release some frozen Iranian funds. In return, Iran would let International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors visit nuclear sites bombed by the US and Israel.
On the second day, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz under a temporary arrangement linked to Oman, until a lasting deal with Gulf countries is reached. After that, wider talks would cover Iran's stock of highly enriched uranium.
Iran has said it will not negotiate on its nuclear activities until its core conditions are met: ending the port blockade, lifting sanctions, unfreezing assets, compensation for war damage and an end to hostilities in the region.
According to the IAEA, Iran held about 440.9 kg of uranium enriched up to 60%, a short technical step from the roughly 90% level used in weapons. Iran says its programme is peaceful. The proposals came in the same week as fresh limited US strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz.
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA): The Iran Nuclear Deal
The JCPOA is the 2015 agreement under which Iran accepted strict limits on its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of international sanctions. It is commonly called the Iran nuclear deal. Its aim was to make sure Iran could not quickly build a nuclear bomb, while letting Iran keep a small, closely watched civilian programme. The deal broke down after the US left it in 2018, and the UN sanctions it had lifted came back in 2025.
With the JCPOA no longer working, there is no agreed framework for Iran's nuclear programme. The bridge deal is an attempt to build enough trust to start talks on a new arrangement, which would again have to deal with enrichment levels and the stockpile.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
The IAEA is the world's main body for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It helps countries use nuclear science safely and also checks that they do not secretly divert nuclear material to make bombs. These checks are called safeguards: inspections, cameras, seals and record checks at nuclear sites. The IAEA reports to the UN General Assembly and, when needed, to the UN Security Council.
The first step of the bridge deal is letting IAEA inspectors into the bombed sites. Only the IAEA can independently check how much enriched uranium survives and where it is, so its access is the base for any further nuclear talks.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
The NPT is a global treaty that tries to stop nuclear weapons from spreading to more countries. It lets five countries keep nuclear weapons for now, asks all other members never to build them, and promises everyone help with peaceful nuclear energy. In return, the five nuclear-weapon states promise to work towards disarmament.
Iran says its programme is peaceful and points to its right to peaceful nuclear energy under the NPT. Other states worry because 60% enrichment has no clear civilian need. The bridge deal tries to restore IAEA checks so that the NPT's safeguards can work again in Iran.
- Chief mediator of the bridge deal proposals: Qatar
- Bridge deal: Day 1, US lifts port blockade and releases some funds, Iran allows IAEA inspectors to bombed sites; Day 2, Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz under a temporary Iran-Oman arrangement
- Iran's stock of up to 60% enriched uranium: about 440.9 kg (IAEA estimate); weapons-grade is about 90%
- JCPOA: signed 14 July 2015; 3.67% enrichment cap; 300 kg stockpile cap; US exit May 2018; snapback triggered 28 August 2025
- IAEA: set up 1957, headquarters Vienna, 35-member Board of Governors
- NPT: signed 1968, in force 1970, extended indefinitely 1995, 191 parties; India is not a party