
What is Iran’s nuclear program and what does the US want?
BBC-April10th2025
By: Raffi Berg
The US and Iran are due to hold the first talks in years on Saturday to try to reach a new deal over Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.
Donald Trump pulled the US out of a previous nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers in 2018, and reinstated economic sanctions, angering Iran.
Trump has warned of military action if the talks do not succeed.
Why isn’t Iran allowed nuclear weapons?
Iran says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only.
It insists it is not trying to develop nuclear weapons, but many countries – as well as the global nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – are not convinced.
Suspicions about Iran’s intentions arose when the country was found to have secret nuclear facilities in 2002.
This broke an agreement called the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which Iran and almost all other countries have signed.
The NPT lets countries use non-military nuclear technology – such as for medicine, agriculture and energy – but does not permit the development of nuclear weapons.

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