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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."

Iranian gov't continues to push for uranium enrichment as nuclear talks stall

The Iranian government continues to insist that enrichment is a "matter of national pride," and any nuclear capabilities would be used for scientific purposes rather than weapons.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
A missile is launched during an annual drill in the coastal area of the Gulf of Oman and near the Strait of Hormuz, Iran
L to R: Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and US President Donald Trump against backdrop of respective flags and missile strikes.

Trump says that he 'will not convince or beg' Iran to enter nuclear negotiations – exclusive

Sources told The Jerusalem Post that Trump said that Iran was still welcome at the table, but that the US would not convince them to negotiate.

|ByAMICHAI STEIN
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi visits Iran's nuclear achievements exhibition, in Tehran, Iran, April 17, 2025.

The start of the post-war game: Iran has five weeks to create new nuclear deal – analysis

Could Europe's August deadline be the most important date in the decades-long nuclear standoff, or will Iran face more sanctions?

|ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
ON THE scene of a building struck by an Iranian ballistic missile.

Eytan Gittler: The lone soldier saving Israeli civilians under Iran missile fire

For two hours, his team walked the stairs up to the top of the 42-story building and then to the bottom, knocking on doors and helping residents leave their apartments.

|ByBARBARA SOFER

US, European allies agree on August deadline for Iran nuclear deal – report

If Iran and the US cannot reach a deal by August, Germany, France, and the UK will reimpose UNSC sanctions that were lifted under the 2015 Iran deal.

JULY 16, 2025ByREUTERS, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The IRGC’s control over Iran’s oil industry has grown to such a point, experts now estimate 50% of the country's oil wealth is siphoned to the military organization

Iranian advisor shares AI image depicting a nuclear strike on Israel

The picture, shared to Instagram, appears to portray two large nuclear explosions with fallout across Israel.

JULY 13, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
An image posted by an Iranian advisor depicting two mushroom clouds and nuclear fallout over Israel, July 12, 2025.

Iran state media denies reports Russia accepts zero enrichment deal

"Putin would support zero enrichment. He encouraged the Iranians to work towards that in order to make negotiations with the Americans more favorable," a European source told Axios.

JULY 12, 2025BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (L) attend a documents signing ceremony in Moscow, Russia; illustrative; January 17, 2025.

Iran's enriched uranium remains at nuclear sites, Israeli official says

The official suggested that the Iranians might still be able to gain access to Isfahan, but it would be hard to remove any of the material there.

JULY 10, 2025ByREUTERS, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Satellite image shows a close up view of destroyed buildings at Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, after it was hit by US airstrikes, in Isfahan, Iran, June 22, 2025.

US must pressure Iran against rebuilding ballistic missile arsenal, Israel Katz says

Israeli military and intelligence resources must be even more concerned with the ballistic missile program than its nuclear program, the defense minister said.

JULY 7, 2025ByYONAH JEREMY BOB
US President Donald Trump against backdrop of Iranian missile (illustration).

The victories of Operation Rising Lion prove God protects his chosen people - opinion

Rising Lion indeed is a “peculiar and fateful” moment in history, and point to the attentive hand of God in our world.

JULY 5, 2025ByDAVID M. WEINBERG
AN IRANIAN missile attack is intercepted, as seen in the skies of northern Israel last week. Iran managed to fire about 600 missiles at Israel in 18 barrages, but 87% were intercepted by Israeli and other defensive systems, the writer notes.

Khamenei seen in first public appearance since war, Hostage negotiation team to fly to Doha Sunday

Cabinet meets to discuss hostage negotiations • Ben-Gvir decries hostage deal proposal • Hamas requests 'unacceptable' changes to Gaza deal, PMO says

JULY 5, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Israelis rally in support of a hostage deal, July 5, 2025.

Israel-Hamas War day 637: What's happening in Gaza, Lebanon, Iran?

IDF announces death of two soldiers in Gaza • UN pulls IAEA nuclear inspectors out of Iran

JULY 4, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
A Palestinian carries water amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip February 4, 2025

Iran enacts law halting all cooperation with nuclear watchdog IAEA

The bill, titled ‘Suspension of the Islamic Republic's Cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency with a Two-Urgency Requirement,’ was originally put forward in parliament last month.

JULY 2, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF, REUTERS
IAEA's Grossi and Iran's FM Abbas Araghchi appear before an illustrative image of a US-struck Iranian nuclear site

The risky gamble on Trump - opinion

Trump supporters would do well to pause; this is someone who scraps long-standing policies one day and reinstates them the next.

JULY 2, 2025ByTOVA HERZL
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump speaks to the media in the White House press briefing room last week. The writer asks: Will Trump work to achieve a long-term agreement that prevents a future Iranian threat?

Iranian FM tells CBS that he does not believe US talks will start anytime soon

This comes after the US president said that diplomatic talks with Iran could resume this week, though the White House noted that no talks were scheduled.

JULY 1, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
IRAN’S FOREIGN MINISTER Abbas Araghchi speaks on the phone during a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, in Istanbul on Saturday. If Iran’s leadership believes it can’t prevail against Israel and the US, it will likely decide to negotiate, says the writer.