TEHRAN – Iran is preparing for a potentially pivotal year in 2025 regarding its nuclear issue, as it braces for the possible re-imposition of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy. Trump, who previously withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal brokered by his predecessor Barack Obama, is set to take office on January 20.
In 2018, Trump reneged on the agreement in which Iran had agreed to curb uranium enrichment in exchange for the relaxation of U.S. and U.N. economic sanctions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, speaking to reporters in Beijing, emphasized the significance of 2025 for Iran’s nuclear issue. He mentioned discussing the matter with his Chinese counterpart but did not elaborate on why the year would be particularly important.
Iranian leaders are concerned that Trump’s return could empower Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to target Iran’s nuclear sites and further tighten U.S. sanctions on Iran’s vital oil industry.
Amid the uncertainty surrounding Trump’s impending presidency, the Iranian rial hit a new all-time low against the U.S. dollar on Saturday. The rial plunged to 820,500 to the dollar on the unofficial market, compared to 808,500 rials on Friday. The currency’s decline has been exacerbated by an inflation rate officially put at about 35%, prompting Iranians to seek shelter for their savings in dollars, other hard currencies, gold, or cryptocurrencies. Since Trump’s election in November, the rial has dropped about 18%1.
As Iran navigates these economic challenges and geopolitical tensions, the year 2025 looms as a critical juncture for its nuclear ambitions and international relations.