Iran's Nuclear Program: Global Brinkmanship Returns Amid Rising Tensions

• US President Donald Trump's warning to Iran to negotiate or face military consequences has brought Iran's nuclear program back into global focus.
• Iran, a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, does not officially possess nuclear weapons but has developed technical capacity for rapid production.
• The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) capped Iran's uranium enrichment; however, the US withdrew in 2018, reinstating sanctions.
• Following the US withdrawal, Iran exceeded enrichment limits, and by June 2025, possessed 441 kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity.
• While Iran's current stockpile could theoretically yield material for multiple weapons, US intelligence indicates no confirmed resumption of weapons-related research since 2003.

Why It Matters: Iran's nuclear program faces renewed global scrutiny and heightened tensions after US warnings and stalled diplomacy.