FnF News
🇺🇸 FNF News | U.S.–Iran Conflict | Nuclear Talks & Ceasefire Collapse
Published: June 26, 2025
Reported by: Khadija Khan, Foreign Bureau Chief – FNF
Bombs Then Bargains: After Airstrikes and Missiles, U.S. and Iran Set Table for Nuclear Talks in Doha
WASHINGTON, D.C. / TEHRAN / DOHA — Just five days after U.S. stealth bombers punched through Iran’s nuclear bunkers and triggered a barrage of retaliatory missile strikes, American and Iranian negotiators are preparing to sit down in Doha for what could be the most consequential nuclear diplomacy session in over a decade. Behind the closed doors of backchannel diplomacy lies a battlefield still cooling—and a ceasefire that may not survive the weekend.
From Midnight Bombing to Fragile Diplomacy
The pivot toward negotiations comes in the aftermath of Operation Midnight Hammer, in which U.S. forces destroyed suspected enrichment hubs at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. Though the Biden administration called it a “last-resort containment strike,” President Trump, who oversaw the operation, claimed it “buried Iran’s nuclear ambitions under 30 stories of concrete.”
U.S. military intelligence, however, has reported that Iran may be able to restart parts of its nuclear program within months. This duality—military shock followed by diplomatic pressure—appears to be the cornerstone of the new Trump Doctrine in the region.
Iran Responds, Then Repositions
In response, Iran launched 14–19 missiles toward the U.S.-operated Al‑Udeid Air Base in Qatar, where all but one were intercepted by U.S. and Qatari air defenses. Though the strike was limited and no casualties occurred, the symbolism was unmistakable: Iran is not retreating—it is maneuvering.
At the same time, Iran’s Parliament suspended cooperation with the IAEA, removing international monitors from enrichment sites and demanding U.S. “accountability for aggression.”
Still, Iran signaled through Qatari intermediaries that it is willing to discuss a return to regulated enrichment—but only if sanctions relief is on the table.
Trump’s Ceasefire Cracking
Trump had announced a “phased ceasefire” between Iran and Israel earlier this week, a deal allegedly brokered with Gulf leaders and indirect Iranian consent. But missile fire, cyberattacks, and limited Israeli airstrikes on southern Syria have tested its integrity.
Israeli officials confirmed that their forces remain “engaged in defensive operations,” and Tehran has accused Israel of attempting to “provoke a breakdown before talks begin.”
Doha Talks: What’s Really at Stake?
The upcoming nuclear negotiations, expected to begin within days in Doha, are reportedly focused on:
- Immediate reduction of uranium enrichment levels
- Gradual reentry of IAEA monitors
- Unfreezing of $6–$10 billion in Iranian assets
- Conditional relief from secondary sanctions on oil exports
If no framework is agreed upon within 10–14 days, the U.S. is said to be considering a second wave of strikes targeting Iran’s missile and drone infrastructure.
Global Players Weigh In
- UN Secretary-General Guterres welcomed the talks, stating “diplomacy must outlive war.”
- Russia and China called for “synchronized concessions,” though both blamed the U.S. for triggering the current crisis.
- The European Union is sending technical observers to the Doha round, hoping to restore the shelved JCPOA framework.
Meanwhile, Gulf nations—particularly Qatar and the UAE—have pushed for a regional de-escalation clause that could be embedded in the broader agreement.
U.S. Military: Vigilant but Restrained
Though no direct retaliation followed Iran’s missile strike on Al‑Udeid, the Pentagon has placed Carrier Strike Groups Ford, Nimitz, and Vinson across key maritime lanes. Officials describe the posture as “calm but locked in,” waiting to see if diplomacy is real—or just a tactical pause.
Cyber Command also confirmed elevated Iranian-linked digital probes of U.S. financial and energy sectors, warning that the next attack may come “without smoke or fire.”
Conclusion
The situation is fluid, fragile, and unpredictable. A table has been set—but what’s being served could either be a deal or a declaration of the next phase of war.