US Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Iran Hours After Nuclear Talks

Oman / New Delhi: Hours after nuclear negotiations in Oman concluded between the United States and Iran, the U.S. Treasury imposed fresh sanctions on Iranian-linked entities. The sanctions were introduced after both sides agreed to continue diplomatic engagement but remained deeply divided on key issues.

In the discussion, the United States has pressed Iran on three major security demands. Washington wants Tehran to reduce its nuclear capabilities to zero enrichment, including ending enriched uranium stockpiles and limiting all uranium enrichment activities, a position the U.S. frames as necessary to eliminate any potential pathway to nuclear weapons.

Secondly, the U.S. is demanding that Iran curb or limit the range and number of its ballistic missiles, which currently place Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East within striking distance.

Last but not the least, American officials want an end to Iran’s support for regional armed groups and proxy networks in countries such as Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Syria, which the U.S. says fuels instability across the region.

Tehran has made it clear that it will not fully satisfy these conditions as the United States defines them. Iran insists it will keep its right to enrich uranium, and its negotiators signaled a willingness to discuss a temporary reduction in enrichment to about 20 percent or even transfer enriched material out of the country under international oversight, but not complete elimination on U.S. terms.

Tehran has rejected any negotiations that include its ballistic missile programme or regional security activities as part of the same agenda, calling those demands “red lines,” and insists discussions should be strictly confined to its nuclear programme with the aim of lifting sanctions instead of broadening the scope.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the talks in Muscat as a “good start”, saying they had created a basis to resume dialogue after consultations in Tehran and Washington. Araghchi underlined Iran’s insistence that the negotiations focus only on its nuclear programme and rejection of broader demands. The U.S. delegation, led by envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, had sought to expand the agenda to include Iran’s missile programme and regional activities.

A senior U.S. official said the sanctions were necessary to maintain pressure on economic networks supporting Tehran’s regional policies while diplomacy continues. “We remain committed to dialogue, but we will continue to uphold security interests,” the official said. Iran condemned the sanctions as undermining trust ahead of future talks.

Why Tensions Escalated

The backdrop to these events lies in a escalation of conflict in 2025 between Israel and Iran, supported in part by the United States. In June 2025, Israel launched a large-scale air and missile campaign targeting Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure, including facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, in an effort to stop Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability. Western nations, including the U.S., provided intelligence and support.

In response, Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Most were intercepted, but several caused damage and injuries. This marked one of the most intense direct exchanges between Israel and Iran in decades.

The conflict drew in the United States more directly when U.S. forces carried out airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites later in June 2025. Officials described the operation as successful and aimed at delaying Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Iran condemned it as a violation of its sovereignty. The United Nations Security Council held emergency sessions as global concern mounted over a broader Middle East war.

In the months since, U.S.–Iran tension has remained high. Iranian naval drills near U.S. warships and multiple military standoffs were reported. A U.S. F-35C shot down an Iranian drone near the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which was deployed to the region as part of a broader military build-up.

Casualties and Damage from Israel-Iran Conflict and Iran Unrest

Since the Israel-Iran conflict erupted in June 2025, thousands of people have died and many more have been injured across the region. During that 12-day war, Iranian and other sources reported that at least 610 Iranians were killed and nearly 4,750 wounded from Israeli airstrikes on military and infrastructure targets, including nuclear sites, hospitals and emergency bases.

While Iranian strikes caused casualties and damage in Israeli cities including Haifa and Be’er Sheva, resulting in over two dozen Israeli civilian deaths and hundreds of injuries from missile and drone impacts. 

In addition, human rights groups say Iran’s internal unrest after the conflict has been extremely deadly. Tehran’s own state television put the protest death toll at 3,117, but activist groups reported significantly higher figures. The broader civil unrest has added to the human cost of regional tensions, making the combined number of casualties from conflict and internal repression one of the most severe in recent Middle East history.

Expert Insight

Analysts say long-standing mistrust, combined with military confrontations, complicates the path to diplomacy. One Middle East security expert commented that “years of conflict and direct strikes have eroded incentives for cooperation,” noting that Iran’s insistence on nuclear sovereignty and U.S. demands for broader concessions reflect deep strategic divides.

What Happens Next

Both Iran and the United States said they will consult their capitals before scheduling the next round of talks. Oman has positioned itself as a key mediator in the fragile process. While diplomatic channels remain open, the combination of fresh sanctions and unresolved security disputes suggests the road to a lasting agreement remains challenging. And with Washington rolling out new sanctions even as talks continue, one question hangs in the air: will diplomacy survive, or will pressure only deepen the crisis further?