What Happened
- US President Donald Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for nearly three hours at the White House on February 11, 2026 — their seventh meeting in Trump's second term — with Iran dominating the agenda.
- Trump stated he "insisted" that negotiations with Iran continue, saying a deal would be his "preference," while warning Iran of consequences by referencing the June 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
- Netanyahu reportedly pushed for expanding the scope of diplomacy with Iran beyond its nuclear programme to include limits on its ballistic missile arsenal and support for regional proxies.
- The meeting followed the first round of indirect US-Iran talks held in Oman on February 6, 2026, with both sides describing them as a "very good start."
- Trump also discussed what he called "tremendous progress being made in Gaza and the Region in general," referring to developments in the broader Iran-Israel conflict that included a ceasefire in June 2025.
Static Topic Bridges
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — History and Collapse
The JCPOA was finalised on July 14, 2015, in Vienna between Iran and the P5+1 (US, UK, France, Russia, China, and Germany) along with the European Union. Under the agreement, Iran accepted significant restrictions on its nuclear programme — capping uranium enrichment at 3.67%, reducing centrifuge numbers, and allowing intrusive IAEA inspections — in exchange for the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions. The deal was implemented on January 16, 2016, after the IAEA verified Iran's compliance.
- Negotiated over 20 months; the P5+1 framework was established in 2006 (originally the EU-3 plus Russia, China, and the US)
- Iran's key commitments: enrichment capped at 3.67% (LEU), stockpile limited to 300 kg, two-thirds of centrifuges removed, Arak heavy water reactor core redesigned, and continuous IAEA monitoring
- The US withdrew on May 8, 2018, under Trump's first term, re-imposing "maximum pressure" sanctions
- Iran began exceeding JCPOA limits from May 2019 and fully abandoned operational restraints after the January 2020 killing of General Qassem Soleimani
- Biden-era revival talks in Vienna (2021-2022) failed to produce a restored agreement
- JCPOA "sunset clauses" on enrichment restrictions began expiring in January 2026
Connection to this news: The current talks in Oman represent a new diplomatic track outside the JCPOA framework, focused on negotiating a fresh arrangement. Trump's insistence on continued talks — despite Israeli scepticism — signals a preference for diplomacy over military action, though the threat of force remains explicit in his reference to Midnight Hammer.
Iran's Nuclear Programme — Current Status and Breakout Capability
Iran's nuclear programme has advanced significantly since the collapse of the JCPOA. Iran is currently enriching uranium to 60% — far beyond the 3.67% permitted under the deal and approaching the 90% weapons-grade threshold. The IAEA has reported that Iran possesses enough 60% enriched uranium to produce material for multiple nuclear weapons with minimal further processing. In June 2025, the IAEA Board of Governors formally found Iran non-compliant with its safeguards obligations for the first time since 2005.
- Iran's enrichment level: 60% (weapons-grade is 90%); JCPOA limit was 3.67%
- Breakout time estimate (as of May 2025 DIA assessment): less than one week for enough HEU for five weapons; under two weeks for eight weapons
- Key facilities: Natanz (main enrichment), Fordow (underground enrichment near Qom), Isfahan (conversion), and Arak (heavy water reactor)
- Operation Midnight Hammer (June 22, 2025): US airstrikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan using B-2 bombers and GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs; Pentagon assessed Iran's programme was set back approximately 2 years
- The Iran-Israel war began June 13, 2025, with Israeli strikes; ceasefire on June 24, 2025
- The February 2026 Oman talks seek commitments on enrichment limits, ballistic missiles, and regional proxy activities
Connection to this news: Trump's dual approach — military strikes in June 2025 followed by diplomatic engagement in February 2026 — mirrors the "maximum pressure" strategy of combining coercion with negotiation. The current talks are premised on Iran's weakened nuclear infrastructure post-Midnight Hammer, but Iran's demonstrated enrichment capability means any agreement must address both existing stockpiles and future capacity.
India's Position on the Iran Nuclear Issue
India has maintained a balanced approach to the Iran nuclear question, supporting diplomatic solutions while safeguarding its strategic and energy interests. India voted against Iran at the IAEA Board of Governors in 2005 and 2006 (which referred Iran to the UN Security Council) but has consistently advocated for dialogue over sanctions. India's relationship with Iran is anchored in the Chabahar Port development and energy trade, both of which are affected by US sanctions regimes.
- India signed a 10-year contract for Chabahar Port's Shahid Beheshti terminal in May 2024, committing approximately $370 million in investment — a key gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia via the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
- India reduced Iranian oil imports to near-zero after the US reimposed sanctions in 2018, despite Iran being India's third-largest oil supplier previously
- India's position: supports a nuclear-weapon-free Iran achieved through diplomacy, consistent with the NPT framework
- Trump's second-term tariff on countries trading with Iran (25%) directly threatens India's Chabahar engagement
- India is not a party to the JCPOA but has strategic interests in its outcomes — a stable Iran is vital for INSTC connectivity, energy security, and regional stability
Connection to this news: The outcome of US-Iran talks has direct implications for India. A successful deal could ease sanctions and reinvigorate India's Chabahar operations and energy imports from Iran. A breakdown could trigger further military escalation in a region critical to India's energy imports (the Persian Gulf accounts for over 60% of India's crude oil imports) and strategic connectivity projects.
Key Facts & Data
- Trump-Netanyahu meeting: February 11, 2026 (nearly 3 hours; 7th meeting of Trump's second term)
- First round of US-Iran indirect talks: February 6, 2026, in Oman
- JCPOA signed: July 14, 2015; US withdrew: May 8, 2018
- Iran's current enrichment: 60% (JCPOA limit: 3.67%; weapons-grade: 90%)
- Breakout time: less than one week for 5 weapons' worth of HEU (May 2025 DIA estimate)
- Operation Midnight Hammer: June 22, 2025; targeted Fordow, Natanz, Isfahan
- JCPOA sunset clauses on enrichment: began expiring January 2026
- India's Chabahar contract: 10 years, ~$370 million (signed May 2024)
- Persian Gulf share of India's crude oil imports: over 60%