Iran Nuclear Deal

The Iran nuclear deal, formally the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is an agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and world powers focused on Iran's nuclear program and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The deal, reached July 14th, 2015 following almost two years of negotiations, was signed by Iran, the European Union and the P5+1, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States—plus Germany. The deal severely limits Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium and imposed limitations on the country's nuclear program in exchange for an easing of international sanctions imposed on the country. The deal was a fundamental tenet of United States President Barack Obama's foreign policy and is thus under heavy scrutiny by his successor, Donald Trump, who has threatened to remove the United States from the deal. Nuclear Agreements Under the framework of the Iran nuclear deal, the country agreed to cut its stockpile of uranium and centrifuges, which could be used to build a nuclear bomb, for a period of 15 years, after which the country can continue unconstrained in those areas. For 10 years, Iran agreed to reduce its low-enriched uranium by 98 percent, from 10,000 kilograms to 300 kilograms, and to only enrich uranium to 3.67 percent, sufficient for civilian nuclear power but not for nuclear weapons. Uranium enriched with the isotope Uranium-235 is supportive of fission chain reactions, a key component in nuclear bombs. Iran also agreed for 10 years to completely eliminate its stockpile of medium-enriched uranium, around 20%. The country capped the number of centrifuges installed at 6,104 , eliminated its advanced centrifuges and agreed not to build new enriching facilities for 15 years. It was also agreed that a heavy-water nuclear facility in Arak will be converted to a nuclear research facility with the excess material exported to the international market. Research and Development The Iran nuclear deal limited the country's research and development of enriched uranium to only the Natanz plant under heavy limitations for the first eight years, a move designed by world powers to keep Iran's "breakout time"— the time it would take Iran to build a nuclear bomb from scratch— at one year, instead of the estimated two-to-three months before the deal. Iran agreed to grant the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors access to any site following a 24-day compliance period if the inspectors raise suspicions of secret nuclear activity. The Iran nuclear deal allows for IAEA inspectors to be present at all times monitoring Iranian researchers and allows for an eight-member joint commission- including Iran- to rule on violations of compliance by way of a simple majority. Lifting of sanctions The international community agreed to lift sanctions on Iran, contingent upon its continued commitment to the terms of the deal, and "snap back" provisions were included, wherein prior sanctions would be re-implemented should Iran be found in violation of the accord. Iran is to receive $100 billion in frozen assets from overseas banks as the United States, European Union and the United Nations agreed to cease nuclear-related sanctions on Iran. In addition, the United States agreed to halt secondary sanctions, sanctions against businesses that themselves to business with Iran, however sanctions targeting ballistic missiles or conventional weaponry remained in effect. Reaction to the Iran nuclear deal While the Iran Nuclear deal was met with widespread praise, it was criticized by both United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The former referred to it as "the worst deal ever" and Netanyahu said it was "a bad mistake of historic proportions."

Grossi: IAEA is completely blind on Iran nuke program

Speaking to the IAEA's Board of Governors, Grossi said the watchdog's lack of information on Iran’s nuclear program is a "serious proliferation concern" and "needs to be rectified."

SEPTEMBER 7, 2026|ByYONAH JEREMY BOB

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director-general Rafael Grossi speaks to the media on the sidelines of a meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors in Vienna, Austria, June 5, 2026

A person holds a placard representing a US flag, with an image of Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on a billboard in the background, on the day of a ceremony marking 40 days since Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, in Tehran, Iran, April 9, 2026.

Trump willing to end war, declare victory on Iran with no nuclear deal, officials say - report

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump privately floated the idea with senior aides, with Iran's reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping a key condition.

AUGUST 9, 2026|ByJAMES GENN

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, June 30, 2026; illustrative.

Israel did not engineer migrant crisis at Ceuta, Spain-Morocco border, Huckabee tells Piers Morgan

Huckabee also said Hamas has no future in Gaza, warned renewed US strikes on Iran would be overwhelming, denied Israel influenced Trump to attack Iran, and condemned global anti-Israel sentiments.

AUGUST 4, 2026|ByJAMES GENN

US President Donald Trump speaks to the media aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland, US, August 2, 2026.

Renewed US-Iran talks on Strait of Hormuz, denuclearization to start on Monday, Trump says

The US halted an attack on Iran "that would have been the biggest attack since World War II, which would have been disastrous for them," Trump explained.

AUGUST 3, 2026|ByESTHER DAVIS

Netanyahu to show Trump proof of Iran's Pickaxe Mountain deception at White House meeting - report

Israel's public diplomacy head denied that Netanyahu arrived with any intelligence on Pickaxe Mountain to share with Trump after the leaders met.

JULY 28, 2026ByTOBIAS HOLCMAN

US President Donald Trump speaks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon arrival for meetings at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, December 29, 2025.

Only regime change prevents Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, former Israel Navy commander says

“Producing a nuclear bomb is a complex and difficult undertaking. The Iranians were very close when the war began,” V.-Adm. (ret.) Eliezer "Chaney" Marom told 103FM.

JULY 22, 2026By103FM

A man crosses the street, past a billboard showing Iranian centrifuges and nuclear scientists killed in Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, August 29, 2025

Mossad rehearsed 2018 Iran nuclear archives raid in Africa, former chief Yossi Cohen reveals

The operation changed the course of history as it was the impetus for US President Donald Trump to pull out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal shortly after the operation's results were revealed.

JUNE 25, 2026ByYONAH JEREMY BOB

Former Head of the Mossad Yossi Cohen attends a Menorah lighting ceremony on the sixth night of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, at the great synagogue in Tel Aviv, December 30, 2024.

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

Here is how Obama's 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and Trump's Memorandum of Understanding on Iran compare.

JUNE 18, 2026ByREUTERS

Donald Trump speaks to Barack Obama at Trump's presidential inauguration in Washington, US, January 20, 2017

Five twists that will determine if Trump's Iran deal will benefit Israel long term - analysis

There are five key aspects to Trump's deal that are critical for Israel on Iran and Hezbollah.

JUNE 15, 2026ByYONAH JEREMY BOB

A PLACARD sends a clear message featuring US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as protesters gather near the UN office during US-Iran nuclear talks, in Geneva, Feb. 17.

Operation Rising Lion: One year later, was it as historic as it seemed? - analysis

Rising Lion was a curtain raiser to what might come next. History will judge whether it was particularly important or a step on the road to a broader strategy.

JUNE 14, 2026BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

Israeli Air Force fighter jets seen ahead of Operation Rising Lion in Iran, June 13, 2025

A nuclear deal won't solve Iran's missiles, proxies, and repression - opinion

A narrow agreement may ease immediate tensions, but Tehran’s missiles, proxies, repression, and strategy of escalation remain the larger threat

JUNE 14, 2026ByJANATAN SAYEH

A man walks past Iran’s national flag and a banner bearing the images of the late founder of the Islamic Revolution, supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (R), the late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei and his son, the current supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei (L), in Tehran, June 10.

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