What's it like to negotiate with Iran? We asked people who have done it

NPR
by Scott Neuman
April 18, 2026
4 views
1 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Negotiating with Iran is difficult due to mistrust, differing styles, and complex issues, making a quick deal unlikely.

AI Summary

Experts who negotiated a 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran state that a quick deal with the nation is unlikely. These experts cited mutual mistrust, starkly different negotiating styles, and the complexity of the issues as reasons for the difficulty. Their assessment comes from months spent in negotiations for the 2015 agreement. This suggests that current diplomatic efforts with Iran will face significant hurdles.

Source Coverage Map

28 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

65% coverage
Did Not Cover (15)
ICIJ97AP US News96ProPublica95Bellingcat95Center for Public Integrity93+10 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Middle East : Fragile US-Iran talks hinge on nuclear and Hormuz disputes
Global

Middle East : Fragile US-Iran talks hinge on nuclear and Hormuz disputes

US-Iran negotiations show limited progress but remain tense, with disputes over enriched uranium and the Strait of Hormuz still unresolved. Donald Trump warns the conflict could resume if no deal is reached, while mediators say compromises may still be possible on nuclear restrictions.

AFP / France 24Apr 18
IAEA chief warns against ‘illusion of an agreement’ on Iran’s nuclear program
Global

IAEA chief warns against ‘illusion of an agreement’ on Iran’s nuclear program

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi on Wednesday warned against the “illusion” of an agreement with Iran that does not clearly outline a method to assess its nuclear development. “Iran has a very ambitious, wide nuclear program so all of that will require the presence of IAEA inspectors,” Grossi told reporters…

The HillApr 15
WATCH: Vought won't say how much Trump has spent on Iran war so far
Government Transparency

WATCH: Vought won't say how much Trump has spent on Iran war so far

Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, declined to tell lawmakers on the Senate Budget Committee in a hearing Thursday how much the federal government has spent on the Iran war so far. Watch the clip in the video player above. "We don't have that figures right now, I think in part because it's fluctuating on a day-in, day-out basis," he told Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. READ MORE: Israel and Lebanon reach...

PBS NewsHourApr 16
Law enforcement is trying to combat abusive AI. Experts say easier said than done
AI & Warfare

Law enforcement is trying to combat abusive AI. Experts say easier said than done

An Ohio man was convicted of cybercrimes involving obscene AI-generated images of women and children. But experts warn of the difficulties in going after such cases.

NPRApr 14
Trump news at a glance: president signals more mass pardons in pipeline; Vance leaves Pakistan after Iran peace talks break down
Politics

Trump news at a glance: president signals more mass pardons in pipeline; Vance leaves Pakistan after Iran peace talks break down

<p>Trump reported saying he will issue mass pardons at end of term; vice-president says Iran and US at an impasse over nuclear weapons question – key US politics stories from Saturday 11 April at a glance</p><p>After granting unconditional pardons to 1,500 people who participated in the 6 January 2021 US Capitol attack at the start of his presidency, Donald Trump has signalled there could be more to come.</p><p>“I’ll pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval [Office],” the president <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/11/trump-mass-pardons-end-of-presidential-term">reportedly said</a> in a recent meeting, garnering laughs from the room, according to a Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-promises-mass-pardons-to-staff-before-leaving-office-d7274d32?mod=author_content_page_1_pos_1">report</a> citing an anonymous source.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/12/trump-news-at-a-glance-latest-updates-...

The Guardian US NewsApr 12
Double standards? Why Iran’s nukes are scrutinised, Israel gets a pass
National Security

Double standards? Why Iran’s nukes are scrutinised, Israel gets a pass

Israel’s policy of ambiguity about its nuclear capability contrasts sharply with the focus on Iran’s programme.

Al JazeeraApr 15
Read Next
Trump calls war on Iran a ‘little diversion’
Global

Trump calls war on Iran a ‘little diversion’

US President Donald Trump has described the war on Iran which has killed more than 2,000 people as a ‘little diversion’.

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources