How does Donald Trump's MoU with Iran compare to Obama's 2015 nuclear deal? - explainer

Trump and Obama's Iran Deals: A Comparative Analysis

President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran, a move that has drawn immediate comparisons to the 2015 nuclear deal brokered by former President Barack Obama. The new agreement, which Trump insists is superior to its predecessor, has also drawn criticism from those who say it falls short of what was achieved more than a decade ago.

Two Very Different Agreements

The Trump administration's MoU is not a final treaty but a 14-point framework that launches a 60-day negotiation period aimed at a full settlement of the conflict that began in late February. It is a relatively brief document, about one and a half pages, according to reports.

In contrast, the Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was a detailed, more than 160-page accord that imposed strict limits on Iran's nuclear program, including capping uranium enrichment at 3.67% and limiting the stockpile to 300kg. The JCPOA also allowed inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which confirmed Iran's compliance until President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the deal in 2018, calling it "decaying and rotten."

The new MoU, by contrast, lays the groundwork for future talks on Iran's nuclear program, but defers the most contentious technical issues. According to analysis by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the framework focuses on extending the ceasefire for at least 60 days and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while leaving the nuclear program for follow-on negotiations.

A Bilateral vs. Multilateral Approach

One key difference is the negotiating structure. Trump's approach has been bilateral, between the U.S. and Iran, whereas Obama brought in China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain, and the European Union for negotiations that lasted about two years.

President Trump has also publicly accused his predecessor of "bribing" Iran to agree to the 2015 deal, referencing a $1.7 billion settlement of a decades-old lawsuit. The accusation was made in brief comments to the media alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Reactions from Obama and Experts

Former President Obama, in an interview aired on ABC's "This Week," expressed skepticism about any new agreement, saying it was "doubtful that any agreement that arises is going to be significantly different or a significant improvement from the deal that we had in the first place." He also suggested that it was better to negotiate a deal that falls short of all U.S. requirements to avoid war, saying, "You'd think we would have learned that lesson by now."

Experts who helped craft the original agreement argue that diplomacy remains indispensable, regardless of military developments. They caution that any lasting settlement will ultimately depend on verification, inspections, and mutual compromise. Steven Cook, senior fellow for Middle East studies at CFR, warned that even if an MoU is announced, "negotiations on the outstanding issues, especially on Iran's nuclear programme, will be long and difficult."

The Nuclear Issue

The JCPOA was designed to extend Iran's "breakout" time to produce a bomb. Following the U.S. withdrawal and the collapse of the deal, Iran stepped up its nuclear program. At the start of the war in February 2026, Iran possessed approximately 440kg of uranium enriched to 60%, according to U.S. officials.

The new MoU outlines a general path toward curbing Iran's nuclear activities, but with no specific commitments from Tehran other than to discuss the issue. Both sides have agreed to discuss enrichment and the disposition of stockpiled material pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon.

What's Next

Negotiations have already begun in Switzerland, with high-level representatives from both sides meeting at a luxury resort on Lake Lucerne. The goal, according to the White House, is a long-term and comprehensive peace agreement.

However, as the BBC's Gary O'Donoghue reported, Vice-President JD Vance has said Tehran's nuclear program has been "comprehensively destroyed," a claim that has not been independently verified.

For now, the MoU has been signed, but the hard work of negotiating a final deal lies ahead. As former President Obama noted, it's unrealistic to expect a significant departure from what was achieved in 2015, a sentiment echoed by experts who caution that the details will matter.