Trump Team Signals Iran Deal Still Fluid as Uranium Fight Intensifies
White House stresses “no dust, no dollars” approach on sanctions relief while officials warn key nuclear details remain unresolved and subject to change
The Trump administration moved Sunday to clarify that any emerging agreement with Iran remains incomplete and highly contingent on Tehran surrendering its enriched uranium stockpile before receiving meaningful sanctions relief. The pushback came after President Donald Trump said Saturday that Washington and Tehran were nearing a memorandum of understanding that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and temporarily ease regional tensions.
Key details remain unresolved. According to reporting from the New York Post, senior administration officials emphasized that the final and most sensitive issues — particularly how Iran disposes of its highly enriched uranium — remain unresolved and could still significantly alter the structure and timing of any eventual agreement. One official described the negotiations as “95% done,” but cautioned that final wording and internal Iranian political considerations could take “five to seven days” or longer to settle.
The administration’s message Sunday centered on a hardline condition officials summarized as “no dust, no dollars,” meaning Iran would receive no substantive sanctions relief unless it fully relinquishes its enriched uranium stockpile. Officials repeatedly contrasted the emerging framework with former President Barack Obama’s 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), arguing the Trump administration would pursue stricter enforcement mechanisms and avoid the type of sanctions relief critics said empowered Tehran financially.
The uncertainty surrounding uranium disposal remains one of the biggest sticking points. Administration officials acknowledged that while both sides generally agree the material must ultimately be removed or neutralized, disputes persist over the mechanics and symbolism of the process. U.S. negotiators reportedly recognize that Iranian leaders face domestic political pressure from hardliners who oppose directly handing over nuclear material to the United States.
Meanwhile, the proposed arrangement would temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease maritime restrictions while broader nuclear negotiations continue. Officials said Iran would also be expected to clear mines deployed in the critical shipping corridor as part of any ceasefire-related arrangement. The Strait remains one of the world’s most strategically important energy chokepoints, handling a significant share of global crude oil and LNG flows.
The apparent outline of the deal has already generated backlash from some Republican lawmakers and strong Israel supporters concerned that the administration could ease pressure on Tehran too quickly. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) reportedly called aspects of the framework a “nightmare for Israel,” while Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) warned that the agreement risked becoming “a disastrous mistake.”
Trump himself appeared to temper expectations Sunday, posting on social media that the agreement was not fully negotiated and warning against premature conclusions. He also stressed that the administration intended to secure a substantially tougher arrangement than the Obama-era nuclear accord.
