Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and Its Collapse
The JCPOA, commonly known as the "Iran nuclear deal," was the landmark 2015 agreement that placed verifiable limits on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Its collapse has been the central driver of current tensions.
- Signed: July 14, 2015, by Iran and the P5+1 (US, UK, France, Russia, China + Germany) along with the EU
- Key provisions: Iran agreed to reduce centrifuges from 19,000 to 6,104, limit uranium enrichment to 3.67%, reduce low-enriched uranium stockpile to 300 kg, and convert the Arak heavy water reactor to prevent plutonium production
- In exchange: International sanctions on Iran were lifted, including EU oil embargo, financial sanctions, and UNSC sanctions
- US withdrawal: President Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018, reimposing maximum pressure sanctions
- Iran's response: Gradually breached JCPOA limits from 2019 — enriching uranium to 60% (weapons-grade is 90%), expanding centrifuge operations, and restricting IAEA access
- Iran's parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA
- Snapback mechanism: Under UNSC Resolution 2231, any JCPOA participant can trigger the reimposition of all pre-JCPOA UN sanctions; the E3 (UK, France, Germany) triggered this mechanism
- UN sanctions reimposed: Including arms embargo, missile technology restrictions, and economic sanctions
● Tracked since February 09, 2026 · last seen June 24, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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