US-Iran Deal: 60 Days to Stop a Nuclear Bomb

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Iran have reached an interim agreement. The deal is set to be signed Friday in Switzerland. It gives the two countries 60 days to solve their biggest problem: Iran’s nuclear program. The goal is to stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb. President Donald Trump said this was the main reason he started a war with Iran in February. But critics say 60 days is not enough time. The last nuclear deal, called the JCPOA, took more than 18 months to negotiate. The new deal has few public details. It is expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for oil shipments. It also offers Iran financial rewards if it meets certain goals. But the most difficult part—ending Iran’s nuclear program—is left for later. Many lawmakers are skeptical. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said he does not trust Iran. “What would a good deal look like? No enrichment,” he said. “I don’t know if we can get there.” David Schenker, a former State Department official, said the Trump administration struggles to stay focused. “This requires dogged attention,” he said. “Trump loses his attention and moves on.” Vice President JD Vance defended the plan. He said Iran will only get benefits if it takes action. “I don’t trust what anyone says. I trust what people do,” Vance said. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. The previous deal, the JCPOA, was signed in 2015. It limited Iran’s uranium enrichment and heavy water production. In exchange, Iran got billions of dollars in sanctions relief. Trump pulled the U.S. out of that deal in 2018. Some Republicans say the short timeline could help. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas said Iran often delays talks to rearm. “The president has to give them a finite amount of time,” he said. But Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat, noted that the Obama-era talks took years. “You had allies and experts around the table,” he said. “I don’t know if Jared Kushner or Steve Witkoff have a Nobel Prize. It’s going to be hard.” The interim deal does not address other issues, like Iran’s missile program or its support for militant groups. “A deal is better than more fighting,” said Brian Katulis of the Middle East Institute. “But this agreement is mostly about cleaning up an unnecessary mess.”