What is Iran's nuclear program and what do the US-Israel want? Know the truth of the dispute and global tension

New Delhi, Iran's nuclear program has long been a matter of concern for the international community, especially the US and Israel. This program remains a complex issue not only for regional security but also for global peace. In recent times, the statements of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have further increased this tension. Let us understand what Iran's nuclear program is, and what the US-Israel want from it.

What is Iran's nuclear program?

Iran's nuclear program began in the 1950s as the Atoms for Peace program with the help of the United States. It included uranium mining, research reactors, and enrichment facilities, which were for peaceful purposes such as power generation and medical research. In 1970, Iran signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), under which it opened its nuclear activities to the monitoring of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

However, after the Iranian Revolution of 1979, when the Shah's government fell and the Islamic Republic was established, cooperation with Western countries stopped. Since the 1990s, Iran began to secretly expand its nuclear program, raising suspicions that it was developing nuclear weapons. Today, Iran has two uranium mines, one reactor, and three known uranium enrichment plants with stocks of up to 60% pure uranium. Iran claims that its program is only for energy and medical purposes, but the IAEA and Western countries suspect that it may also be used for weapons.

What does the US want?

The US has long been demanding that Iran's nuclear program be dismantled or brought under strict control. In 2015, the Obama administration signed a nuclear deal with Iran called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in which Iran received economic sanctions relief in exchange for limiting its nuclear program and allowing international inspections. But in 2018, Donald Trump withdrew the US from the deal, calling it a "bad deal".

In recent statements, Trump has said that if Iran does not sign a new deal, its nuclear sites could be "bombed". Trump and his national security adviser Mike Waltz believe that it is necessary to "completely destroy" Iran so that it cannot develop nuclear weapons. The US also aims to limit Iran's ballistic missiles and regional influence, which it considers a cause of regional instability.

What does Israel want?

Israel, which considers Iran its biggest enemy, demands an end to Iran's nuclear program. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is Israel's "fight for survival." Israel claims that Iran is secretly developing nuclear weapons and could use them to destroy Israel.

In the past months, Israel has carried out cyber attacks and targeted assassinations on Iranian nuclear scientists and facilities, such as the killing of top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in 2020. Netanyahu, along with Trump, has advocated military action against Iran, but the US has so far ruled out a direct military attack. Israel's goal is to completely destroy Iran's nuclear plants and reduce its regional influence.

Tensions and new negotiations

Recently, on April 8, 2025, Trump announced that the US and Iran were going to start direct or indirect negotiations on the nuclear program in Oman. However, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi clarified that these talks will be indirect, and Iran is only willing to discuss militarization concerns rather than ending its nuclear program. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said that the US cannot be trusted, but the door is open for talks.

#IranNuclearTalks and #USIsraelPolicy are trending on social media, where people are linking this tension to the fear of a third world war. Some users have termed Trump and Netanyahu's policies as "dangerous", while others believe that it is necessary to send a strong message to Iran.

Conclusion

The debate still remains whether Iran's nuclear program is peaceful or military. The US and Israel aim to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, while Iran wants to protect its rights and freedom from economic sanctions. All eyes are on the talks to be held in Oman in the coming days, as it can have an impact not only on the Middle East, but also on global peace.