Trump Calls Iran Denuclearization ‘Very Simple’ as Doha Talks Continue
President Donald Trump on Wednesday described the denuclearization of Iran as “very simple” and said the Islamic Republic has “come a long way” after being “hit very hard” by US strikes, as American and Iranian representatives continued indirect talks through Qatari and Pakistani mediators in Doha. The remarks, delivered before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, come at a critical juncture in US-Iran relations as a fragile 60-day ceasefire framework hangs in the balance.
“It’s the denuclearization of Iran. It’s very simple. And Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon otherwise,” Trump told reporters, according to Fox News. The president added that denuclearization talks are “moving along well” and that the stock market and oil prices are reacting positively to the diplomatic progress, noting crude oil futures fell below $69 per barrel for the first time since the conflict began in February.
The Doha Talks: Day Two
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were in Qatar’s capital for the second day of technical denuclearization talks on Wednesday. However, Iran continues to refuse face-to-face meetings, forcing all communication through Qatari mediators. Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari confirmed that no high-level meetings or direct talks between the US and Iran were scheduled, as reported by the Times of Israel.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Wednesday that talks between the Iranian delegation and Qatari and Pakistani officials in Doha had concluded, and that a communication channel would be established to report and discuss any breaches of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), according to Al Jazeera. Gharibabadi also indicated that part of $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets would be used to purchase goods based on Iran’s needs.
Trump Considered All-Out War
The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Trump held “multiple conversations” with War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine about resuming full-scale attacks on Iran. According to Fox News, the president reportedly considered “finishing the job” through military action but ultimately chose to continue diplomatic efforts, concerned that another round of military action could derail the chances of dismantling Iran’s nuclear program.
When asked about the report, Trump downplayed the possibility of returning to all-out war, saying he thinks Iran has “come a long way” and that the two sides are “getting along very well.”
Vance: Further Strikes ‘Up to the Iranians’
Vice President JD Vance, speaking at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia, said Iran is “further away from developing a nuclear bomb than they have ever been” and that further US bombings are “up to the Iranians.” Vance told reporters that if Iran tries to rebuild its nuclear program or attacks commercial vessels again, “that’s going to change our calculus.”
“As we sit here today, their navy is at the bottom of the ocean, and they have no ability to project power like they did even twelve months ago,” Vance said, as reported by Fox News.
The Fragile Ceasefire Framework
The current diplomatic efforts are built on a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding signed by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Switzerland on June 17, 2026. The MOU provides for an immediate and permanent end to military operations on all fronts — including Lebanon — Iran’s commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, US sanctions relief on a schedule, and a $300 billion reconstruction plan for Iran. The agreement established a 60-day window — expiring around August 16 — to negotiate a final deal.
The ceasefire’s fragility was demonstrated over the weekend of June 28-29, when the US struck Iranian military targets in response to Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides ultimately agreed to “stand down,” but the incident underscored how quickly the truce could collapse.
Regional and Economic Ripples
The diplomatic thaw is already producing tangible effects. Lufthansa and ITA Airways resumed flights to Tel Aviv on July 1 after a four-month hiatus, signaling a return to normalcy in the region. Oil prices have dropped significantly, with Trump noting that crude oil fell below $69 per barrel — the lowest since the Iran war began in February.
Meanwhile, Israel remains a wild card in the equation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has distanced himself from the US-Iran MOU, and Israel signed a separate US-brokered agreement with Lebanon on June 26 aimed at disarming Hezbollah. Netanyahu has stated that Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains a threat — a position that potentially conflicts with the US-Iran MOU’s clause on ending operations on “all fronts.”
What to Watch For
With the 60-day negotiating window ticking toward an August 16 deadline, several critical questions remain unanswered. Can the technical talks in Doha produce a framework for a final agreement? How will Iran’s domestic political dynamics — particularly Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s reported skepticism — affect negotiations? And will the US Congress approve sanctions relief amid bipartisan concerns?
The coming weeks will test whether the “very simple” solution Trump envisions can survive the complex realities of Middle East geopolitics, domestic political pressures on both sides, and the ever-present risk of a return to hostilities.