Trump expects Iran to resume talks, State Department says

The sanctions were lifted as part of a nuclear deal in 2015, which effectively unraveled in 2018 when the United States, under President Donald Trump, withdrew from it.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Tuesday that the E3 (France, Britain, and Germany) would trigger the so-called snapback mechanism built into that deal unless tangible progress is made on a new nuclear agreement.

“If the snapback mechanism is activated and the suspended resolutions reimposed, all UN member states—including China and Russia—will be obligated to cooperate in enforcing sanctions against Iran, and cannot opt out of compliance,” Jahan-e Sanat, Iran’s leading economic daily, warned in an editorial quoting international relations expert Ali Bigdeli.

Escalation and uncertainty

Such warnings are dismissed as signs of weakness by more hardline voices in Iran—who are instead ramping up combative rhetoric.

IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News on Tuesday warned that Iran could raise uranium enrichment from 60% to 90%, and may use its enriched uranium stockpile for what it called “non-prohibited military purposes.”

The report, widely circulated across Iranian media, was quietly removed within hours.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei had said a day earlier that Tehran’s response to a potential snapback would be “proportionate,” leaving the audience to guess the specifics.

Former lawmaker Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh accused Iranian diplomats of lacking expertise and slammed hardliners for propagating what he called false narratives.

“President Pezeshkian must end his passiveness in foreign policy and rescue national interests from the grip of radicals,” he wrote in the moderate daily Arman Melli, harshly criticizing the original 2015 nuclear agreement and those who signed it.

The big “if”

Prominent reformist daily Sharq quoted analyst Mohammad Irani warning of a “political earthquake” and the effective closing of the door on diplomacy.

As Europe seeks to redefine its role—after a period of watching from the sidelines—a snapback of UN sanctions would foreclose the possibility of a Tehran-Washington agreement, Irani warned.

As commentary deepens, some voices are drawing attention to the fragile assumptions behind Iran’s current posture—and the risks of miscalculation.

“The snapback poses one of Iran’s most serious challenges—politically and economically," analyst Mehdi Pazouki wrote in Arman Melli, adding that the troubled waters could be navigated if Tehran turns to “realistic and proactive diplomacy."

That “if” looms large, Pazouki warned, given the growing absence of realism in Tehran’s foreign policy.

As Congress works through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), two prominent Democrats have pushed for legally binding disclosures related to the June 22 strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.

Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), who frequently crosses partisan lines to vote with Republicans, introduced an amendment requiring the Department of Defense to disclose all costs associated with the strikes. It passed on Wednesday.

“The American people deserve to know how much we spent, and how much our increased troop and force deployment to the Middle East will cost taxpayers,” Khanna wrote on X.

Another Democrat and more strident critic of President Donald Trump, Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY), proposed an amendment calling for a full battle damage assessment (BDA) of the strikes.

His proposal would have required the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense to deliver the assessment within 90 days. It did not pass amid Republican opposition.

“The Republican majority is refusing to consider my amendment to the Defense funding bill on Trump’s failed strike on Iran and the disastrous consequences of his withdrawal from the Iran Deal. What are they trying to hide?” Nadler wrote on X, referring to a 2015 international deal from which Trump withdrew in his first term.

Lawmakers reacted swiftly to the President’s surprise announcement of the strikes last month. Republican hawks largely celebrated the move, while many Democrats voiced strong criticism.

An initial Pentagon assessment suggested the attacks had only set Iran's nuclear program back by months, but subsequent analysis released by the Central Intelligence Agency said it would take Tehran years to recover.

Revolutionary Guards-affiliated Fars News reported Wednesday that Iran’s Ministry of Communications sent the complaint in a letter dated June 23 to the ITU’s Radio Regulations Board.

The report included a copy of the letter, which alleges that Starlink operated in Iran without the required license.

The complaint follows Starlink’s activation in Iran during the 12-day war with Israel last month, when Iranian authorities imposed widespread internet shutdowns.

On June 14, Starlink’s founder Elon Musk confirmed on X that “the beams are on,” indicating the satellite service was active inside Iran.

Starlink's role in Iran has grown significantly over recent years. The number of its users in the country has now surpassed 100,000, according to Pouya Pirhosseinlou, head of the Internet and Infrastructure Committee at Iran’s E-Commerce Association.

"Over 30,000 unique users are utilizing satellite internet, suggesting that the total number of satellite internet users exceeds 100,000," Pirhosseinlou told Iran's ILNA news agency earlier this year.

Despite being officially prohibited in Iran, Starlink’s appeal lies in its unrestricted access and high-speed service—an alternative to the heavily filtered and controlled local internet where Iran ranks among the world's lowest for internet freedom, according to Freedom House.

Last weekend, Iran's judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir said authorities would take legal action against individuals and entities using Starlink.

According to a new proposed espionage-related bill, penalties ranging from six months to 10 years would apply to the use or distribution of unauthorized communication equipment, including satellite internet services like Starlink, depending on scale and intent.

The United States attacked the Isfahan, Natanz and Fordow nuclear sites with long-range bombers and submarine-launched missiles on June 22.

Trump called the strikes "the most perfect military maneuver that anybody's seen — probably in 50 years," in a White House appearance alongside Bahrain's crown prince.

“We knocked out their entire potential nuclear capacity. And it was obliterated," he added. "It turned out it was more than obliterated. They can't go back.”

An initial Pentagon assessment suggested the attacks had only set Iran's nuclear program back by months, but subsequent analysis released by the Central Intelligence Agency said it would take Tehran years to recover.

In the first public remarks by a Persian Gulf leader apparently praising the attacks, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa - who also serves as Prime Minister - said, “I definitely believe that the volatility of the situation has been reduced.”

On the possible resumption of talks, Al Khalifa added, “I believe the ball is in their court. That is the true reality of where we stand today. They are the ones that stand to benefit from a negotiation.”

Following a June 24 ceasefire which paused the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, Trump questioned whether further nuclear diplomacy was needed given the scale of damage to Iranian nuclear sites.

European countries have called for a diplomatic solution to the nuclear impasse while Iranian officials have not ruled out further talks.

“They want to negotiate,” Trump added on Wednesday. “They want to negotiate badly. We're in no rush. We could have made a deal. They should have made a deal — and then we bombed the hell out of their various places.”

Hours before the White House meeting, the United States and Bahrain signed an agreement to enhance cooperation on the development of a civil nuclear program.

Iran’s nuclear program has long been a source of unease for its Persian Gulf neighbors. A Shi’ite-majority island kingdom ruled by a Western-backed Sunni monarchy, Bahrain has long viewed Tehran’s regional policies with suspicion. It also hosts major US and British military bases.

“This is an important signing. It serves as the first step toward deeper civil nuclear cooperation — an example that the United States is prepared to be a partner with any nation on earth that wants to pursue a civil nuclear program,” he said.

Bahrain's activities, Rubio added, are “clearly not geared toward weaponization or threatening the security of its neighbors.”

A Shi'ite majority island kingdom ruled by a Western-backed Sunni monarchy, Bahrain has long been suspicious of Tehran's policies in the region. It is host to major US and British military bases.

“I want to restate our deep appreciation and backing for President Donald Trump's tireless work toward achieving ceasefires, building confidence, and ultimately creating a secure region where all its peoples can live in peace and prosperity,” Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said.

Iran’s nuclear program has long been a source of unease for its Persian Gulf neighbors. US President Donald Trump started talks with Iran in April, giving a 60-day deadline to reach a deal. On the 61st day, Israel launched a surprise military campaign against Iran.

A June 24 ceasefire paused the 12-day war, which was capped by US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.

The United States had demanded that Iran end domestic uranium enrichment but said Tehran could pursue a civilian nuclear program.

The European Union has previously suggested that if no nuclear agreement is reached with Iran, they may trigger the resumption of United Nations sanctions.