ISSN 2360-7998
Abstract
This study critically examines the diplomatic and strategic dimensions of the 2026 Iran–United States peace talks within the broader context of nuclear politics and Middle Eastern security. The research explores how historical hostility, ideological rivalry, and competing security interests shaped the negotiation process between Tehran and Washington. Particular attention is given to the evolution of Iran’s nuclear programme, the legacy and collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and the escalation dynamics that intensified tensions between 2019 and 2026. Using realism, liberal institutionalism, constructivism, and nuclear deterrence theory as analytical frameworks, the study evaluates how nuclear capability functioned simultaneously as a deterrent mechanism, bargaining instrument, and symbol of political sovereignty. Methodologically, the research adopts a qualitative approach based on historical analysis, policy evaluation, and critical interpretation of diplomatic and scholarly sources. The findings demonstrate that the 2026 negotiations primarily functioned as a mechanism of crisis management rather than comprehensive conflict resolution. Although the talks contributed to temporary de-escalation and prevented wider military confrontation, they failed to establish a durable framework capable of resolving the underlying strategic mistrust between both states. The study concludes that sustainable US–Iran reconciliation requires not only technical nuclear agreements but also broader transformations in regional security structures, institutional credibility, and long-term diplomatic trust-building.
Keywords: U.S.–Iran Relations; Nuclear Diplomacy; JCPOA; Nuclear Deterrence; Middle East Security