Negotiations between Iran and the United States regarding Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear programme are progressing to a more detailed phase, as expert-level discussions are set to begin this Wednesday. Analysts view this as a constructive development, indicating a mutual willingness to explore technical solutions, though it does not yet signal the imminent conclusion of a new agreement.
The move to what is referred to as the “expert level” suggests that high-level discussions between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff have not broken down. Rather, both sides appear to be pursuing practical goals by delegating the finer details to technical teams.
Kelsey Davenport, director for non-proliferation policy at the Arms Control Association, noted that the transition to technical talks is significant. “If Witkoff had been pushing for maximalist demands like dismantling Iran’s entire enrichment programme, Iran would have had no reason to agree to further discussions at the expert level,” she said.
However, the road ahead remains fraught with complexity. Questions such as the acceptable level of uranium enrichment by Iran, the future of its ballistic missile programme, and which sanctions might be lifted or remain in place are still unresolved. These are the key technical and political flashpoints that could derail progress.
Richard Nephew, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a former State Department official, stressed the importance of political will: “The value of expert talks hinges on whether there’s a political commitment to reaching a deal. If not, experts are left spinning their wheels.”
The precedent of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) offers a useful framework. That accord, signed under President Barack Obama, saw then-Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz working closely with Iran’s Ali Akbar Salehi—both scientists by training—to nail down specifics like uranium purity and stockpile limits. Iran had agreed to enrich uranium only up to 3.67% and to maintain a stockpile of just 300 kilograms.
Fast forward to today, Iran is enriching uranium to as high as 60%, alarmingly close to weapons-grade levels of 90%. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s latest figures placed Tehran’s uranium stockpile at a staggering 8,294.4 kilograms as of February 2025. The 2015 deal also restricted centrifuge use and laid out timelines for sanctions relief—details that will once again require expert-level attention to revive or redesign.
“Non-proliferation agreements are meaningless without robust verification mechanisms,” said Davenport. “The US must bring a strong technical team to the table to craft and oversee intrusive monitoring protocols that can detect any deviation swiftly.”
Despite positive signals, the negotiating parties have remained tight-lipped about the specifics. A brief diplomatic flare-up arose after Witkoff suggested in a TV interview that Iran could enrich uranium up to 3.67%, the limit set under the Obama-era deal. He later clarified his remarks, stating, “A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal,” and demanded the elimination of Iran’s nuclear enrichment and weaponisation programmes.
In response, Araghchi insisted that enrichment was a core issue for Iran and not up for negotiation. “Iran must be able to enrich,” he said.
Even so, former US diplomat Alan Eyre, who was involved in earlier rounds of negotiations with Tehran, described the developments as encouraging. “Although still in the early stages, I’m heartened by the pace and seriousness with which the expert talks are beginning.”
Nephew agreed, noting that the technical discussions mark a crucial turning point. “They indicate a willingness to dive into the details. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves—sometimes expert talks are used as a way to delay difficult political decisions.”
Corey Hinderstein of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace echoed this cautionary optimism. “The heads of delegation define the strategy,” she said. “But if there’s a deal to be made, the experts will be the ones who shape it.”
For now, all eyes remain on Vienna, where the expert-level negotiations are expected to unfold. Whether they will pave the way for a comprehensive deal remains to be seen—but at the very least, the door to diplomacy remains open.
