Obama’s Iran deal was a “worst deal ever,” Trump says as talks continue

Rashmi Pandey — Sun, 24 May 2026 15:28:45 +0000

US President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed that negotiations between the United States and Iran over a potential nuclear agreement were moving forward in a “constructive” manner, while sharply criticising the nuclear deal signed during former President Barack Obama’s administration.

In a lengthy statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump described the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement negotiated under the Obama administration as “one of the worst deals ever made” and alleged that it created a direct pathway for Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

Trump stated that the negotiations currently being conducted by his administration were “the exact opposite” of the earlier agreement and stressed that the United States would not rush into any arrangement with Tehran.

“The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side,” Trump wrote. He further added that the “blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.”

The US President also reiterated Washington’s position that Iran would not be allowed to develop or procure a nuclear weapon. “They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb,” he said.

Trump additionally thanked several Middle Eastern countries for supporting the ongoing diplomatic efforts and referenced the Abraham Accords, the US-backed agreements that normalised relations between Israel and multiple Arab nations during his first presidential term. He suggested that regional cooperation could further expand in the future and even hinted that Iran could potentially become part of the framework.

The statement comes amid renewed international attention on US-Iran relations and backchannel diplomatic engagements over Tehran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief and regional security concerns. The Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed in 2015 between Iran and major world powers, had imposed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. However, Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement during his first term in 2018, calling it flawed and ineffective.

Since then, tensions between Washington and Tehran have fluctuated, with repeated concerns raised by Western powers and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding Iran’s uranium enrichment activities and nuclear capabilities.

Trump’s latest remarks are expected to intensify global discussions around the future of US-Iran diplomacy, sanctions enforcement and stability in the Middle East as negotiations continue behind closed doors.

Abraham Accords | Business Upturn

Obama’s Iran deal was a “worst deal ever,” Trump says as talks continue