Ten Minutes On... America, Iran, and the Nuclear Deja Vu

In this week’s episode of Ten Minutes On..., we explore the eerie déjà vu of U.S. policy towards Iran’s nuclear programme. From the Obama-era JCPOA to Trump’s dramatic withdrawal and back again to something suspiciously similar—what exactly is America trying to achieve? And does it even know?

Dr Guy Burton dissects the latest round of U.S.–Iran nuclear negotiations, the inconsistencies between public posturing and private proposals, and the curious pattern of recycled diplomacy dressed up as new strategy. Along the way, we look at domestic political constraints, regional spoilers like Israel, and the broader lack of strategic clarity that continues to define American foreign policy in the Middle East.

In this episode:

• What’s actually in the current U.S.–Iran nuclear deal talks
• Why the proposed agreement looks strikingly similar to the JCPOA
• Trump’s ironic role in returning to the deal he once abandoned
• The legacy of “maximum pressure” and its unintended consequences
• The problem of trust, mixed messages, and strategic incoherence

Key themes:
U.S. foreign policy | Iran nuclear programme | JCPOA | U.S.–Iran negotiations | Trump and policy reversals | Sanctions diplomacy | Middle East strategy

Why listen:
If you’re tired of soundbites and want 10 minutes of thoughtful, historically grounded analysis on why U.S. policy with Iran keeps looping like a broken record, this episode is for you.