Iran has formally laid out a two-phase diplomatic roadmap for its negotiations with the United States, splitting the talks into an initial stage focused on ending hostilities and a second stage dedicated to the nuclear program and sanctions relief. The framework, confirmed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, represents the most structured attempt at US-Iran engagement since the 2015 nuclear deal era.
The two-stage playbook
The first phase revolves around a memorandum of understanding aimed at ceasing hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and delivering some form of interim sanctions relief.
The second phase covers a comprehensive review of Iran’s nuclear program and broader sanctions concerns, with a proposed 60-day window that can be extended. Signing of the initial MOU is anticipated by mid-June 2026, which would set the clock ticking on nuclear discussions.
The structure intentionally suspends the most contentious issues, like nuclear enrichment, to let initial agreements on hostilities and economic relief move forward. It borrows elements from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Obama-era nuclear deal that the Trump administration previously abandoned in 2018.
