Hans-Dieter Lucas, the former government lead negotiator on the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, has criticized the approaches taken by the United States during current peace talks. Speaking to “Die Zeit”, he cautioned that “nuclear negotiations are fundamentally different from real estate deals”.
The former diplomat expressed concern over the perceived lack of consistency on the American side. He stressed that deep expertise in nuclear matters is indispensable. Lucas pointed out a notable difference in preparation: ten years ago, the US delegation was advised by highly qualified nuclear experts. In contrast, the current talks featuring figures like J.D. Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner appear to be taking place without significant scientific backing or specialized support.
He voiced fears that the Americans might be unfairly exploited during the process. While hoping that subject matter experts still scrutinize any proposals, Lucas contrasted this with the Iranian side, where he noted the presence of individuals intimately familiar with the dossier, recalling that then-Foreign Minister Araghtschi had been one of the chief negotiators. Regarding the Iranian negotiating team, Lucas was highly respectful yet cautious, describing them as “some of the hardest negotiators ever…. highly intelligent, very skilled, and possessing high expertise. One must take great care”.
Lucas built his diplomatic career throughout Germany, serving as a State Director in the Foreign Office, Permanent Representative of Germany to NATO, and an Ambassador. He was involved with the 2015 agreement-though it was later announced by Donald Trump-which was intended to restrict Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities and prevent its use for military purposes.
