Senior officials in the Trump administration have reportedly admitted that the chances of reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran are diminishing. The Wall Street Journal disclosed that officials made a rare acknowledgment that the president’s key goals in restraining Iran’s nuclear capabilities may not be attainable.

Since the conflict erupted on February 28, President Donald Trump has emphasized that Iran must never advance its nuclear program. This was a major point of contention in the negotiations between the two countries, which eventually stalled.

The recent ceasefire agreement collapsed this week, dashing hopes of resolving the conflict. President Trump scrapped the fragile truce on Tuesday, leading to retaliatory strikes on Tehran after Iran’s missile assaults on three vessels in the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the week.

The reopening of the strategic shipping canal has been a contentious issue, with negotiations hinging on Iran committing to halt attacks on passing ships and keeping the waterway open.

There are warnings of severe consequences if Iran fails to make this commitment by Saturday, although no firm deadline has been set. President Trump asserted that Iran will never develop a nuclear weapon under any deal, but uncertainties remain about the prospects of reaching an agreement.

The options for Trump are narrowing down, as he may consider escalating military action to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions, accepting a deal that falls short of his demands, or completely disengaging from the conflict, raising concerns about the operation of the Strait.

Officials highlighted that a nuclear deal with Iran is contingent on Iran surrendering its enriched uranium. The interim peace deal signed in June obligated Iran to ensure safe passage for ships in the Strait. An Iranian official expressed regret over the recent ship attacks and called for ongoing negotiations.

Both parties have a 60-day window to finalize a nuclear agreement under the current deal, with the possibility of extensions. Although Iran has not committed to reducing or pausing its nuclear activities, it has indicated willingness to find a satisfactory resolution regarding its highly enriched uranium stockpile.