IAEA Director General Grossi warned Trump against pursuing a nuclear deal with Iran without international inspections. He emphasized that such agreements would be meaningless without verifiable oversight and could lead to a dangerous nuclear arms race. Concerns were raised about potential nuclear proliferation among countries like Poland, South Korea, and Japan.
The EU has expanded sanctions against Iran targeting those responsible for blocking the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions. This strengthens the Western stance against Iran and makes it less likely that Trump will concede to Iranian demands for oil sanctions relief or that Iran will end uranium enrichment. Monitoring statements from the U.S. Treasury, IAEA inspections, and Iranian leadership rhetoric is crucial.