As tensions simmer in the Persian Gulf and global attention turns once again to the high-stakes negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, Tehran is reportedly leaning toward a pragmatic but limited solution: an interim nuclear deal. According to Axios, citing a European diplomat and another unnamed source, Iran has deemed it unrealistic to reach a comprehensive agreement within the two-month window set by the United States. Instead, it may opt for a stopgap accord that temporarily addresses key nuclear concerns while allowing room for broader negotiations later.

This potential shift in strategy comes as Iranian and American delegations prepare to meet in Oman for talks this weekend. The negotiations mark a rare point of potential thaw between the two adversaries, albeit laced with deep-seated mistrust, political posturing, and military threats.

On April 9, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian struck a cautious but firm tone. “We are ready for engagement,” he said, “but this engagement must be indirect, dignified, and accompanied by clear guarantees, because we still do not trust the other side.” His comments underscore the deep skepticism within Iran’s leadership regarding American intentions, particularly in light of the US withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

That deal, struck under the Obama administration and endorsed by the United Nations, was seen as a diplomatic triumph. It significantly curtailed Iran’s nuclear activities in return for economic relief. However, in 2018, then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the........

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