Trump: Iran Deal Will Be 'Easy' Now
Following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, President Trump claimed that making a diplomatic agreement with Iran will now be “easy.” He addressed the nation amid escalating missile exchanges, warning that the U.S. would respond with “force that has never been seen before” if Iran’s retaliation continues. The statement contrasts sharply with the ongoing military conflict and Iran's vows of “massive retaliation.”
The original 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was negotiated between Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers: the United States, United Kingdom, France, China, Russia, and Germany. It lifted international sanctions on Iran in exchange for strict limits on its nuclear program, which was widely believed to be aimed at developing weapons. President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA in 2018, calling it a "terrible" deal and reimposing crippling sanctions as part of a "maximum pressure" campaign. In response, Iran began to progressively violate the deal's restrictions, enriching uranium to higher levels and expanding its nuclear activities, significantly shortening its potential "breakout time" to produce a nuclear weapon. The current crisis follows a period of intense but ultimately failed diplomacy in 2025. The Trump administration had reportedly given Iran a two-month deadline to agree to a new, stricter deal that would also cover its ballistic missile program and regional influence. After the deadline passed, a 12-day war erupted between Iran and Israel in June 2025. Iran is currently in the grip of a severe economic crisis, with its currency, the rial, having collapsed and inflation soaring. The economic hardship led to widespread protests across all 31 provinces starting in late 2025. This internal instability is a significant factor in the current leadership's decision-making. Following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has established a provisional leadership council. This council, which includes President Masoud Pezeshkian, is tasked with governing until a new Supreme Leader is chosen by the Assembly of Experts. Initial statements from the new leadership have been defiant, with President Pezeshkian vowing revenge and calling the assassination a "declaration of open war." This rhetoric comes as Iran has launched retaliatory missile strikes against Israel and U.S. bases in the region. The international reaction has been divided. Russia and China have condemned the U.S.-Israeli strikes, with Vladimir Putin calling the assassination a "cynical violation" of international law. European leaders, while condemning Iran's retaliation, have urged a return to negotiations. Key figures to watch include Ali Larijani, a veteran politician and head of the Supreme National Security Council, who has been described as a pragmatist and has suggested the nuclear issue is "resolvable." The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is also expected to play a decisive role in the transition, pushing for a swift appointment of a new, likely hardline, Supreme Leader.
