Trump's Iran policy undergoes scrutiny following ceasefire

The Iran policy of the Trump administration is under scrutiny following a pivot from a "maximum pressure" strategy toward a ceasefire. After a significant escalation in June 2025, in which the U.S. and Israel struck Iranian nuclear facilities and Iran responded with a missile strike on a U.S. air base in Qatar, a two-week ceasefire was announced in April 2026.

While the administration has framed the ceasefire as a victory, critics argue the move legitimizes the Iranian regime and abandons the goal of regime change. Negotiations regarding uranium enrichment have faced hurdles due to U.S. demands to limit Iran's missile capabilities and its proxy networks. Analysts suggest that the success of the administration's "let's make a deal" negotiating style remains uncertain when facing a state with nuclear ambitions and deeply held religious doctrines.