🔗 Share this article

A major global deal intended to curb the proliferation of nuclear weapons has formally terminated, with Tehran announcing the termination of the decade-old arrangement.

Landmark Deal Formally Terminated

Iran declared on the weekend that it was no longer bound by the 2015 agreement, officially known as the JCPOA, under which international sanctions were lifted in exchange for restrictions on Tehran's nuclear programme.

Henceforth “all of the terms [of the 2015 deal], including the restrictions on the Iran's nuclear program and the associated processes are regarded as ended”, Iran’s foreign ministry announced in a statement.

Nonetheless, it clarified that the nation “strongly expresses its dedication to diplomacy”.

Context of the Deal

Signed in the Austrian capital by Tehran, China, Britain, Paris, Berlin, Russia and the United States, the pact sought to resolve the years-long political dispute and signify the start of a new era in ties between Iran and the west.

While the deal officially expires on Saturday, it has been in chaos for a long time.

Major Developments Preceding the End

• Back in 2018, in his initial presidency, President Trump displeased his EU allies by unilaterally withdrawing the United States from the deal and reimposing restrictions.
• Consequently of the American withdrawal, Tehran began escalating its nuclear activities.
• European-led negotiations to resurrect the pact have failed, and this summer’s airstrikes on Iran by Tel Aviv and the United States left hopes for a renewal at a record low point.

Latest Developments

After the two-week conflict in June, the Iranian legislature passed a law to refuse to cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog, the UN’s atomic monitoring body.

That resulted in signatories Britain, Germany and France triggering the known as “automatic reinstatement” process, leading to the reinstatement of the UN sanctions.

Those automatic measures in practice made a formality of “the end date”, which was scheduled for October 18, precisely a decade after the approval of UN security council resolution 2231.

International Reactions

Recently, when the snapback restrictions went into effect, the UK, Paris and German foreign ministers said in a combined declaration they would continue to seek “a fresh political solution to guarantee Iran never acquires a atomic weapon”.

The European Union’s chief diplomat, the EU foreign policy chief, remarked the measures “must not be the conclusion of diplomacy” and that “a sustainable resolution to the Iranian nuclear problem can only be attained through talks”.

Future Prospects

Earlier this week, former President Trump expressed that he wanted a peace deal with Iran, while Iran has repeatedly stated it is willing to diplomacy with the US, on condition that Washington offers assurances against armed conflict during any potential discussions.

The 3 EU nations also recently declared they would attempt to restart talks to find a “all-encompassing, durable and verifiable agreement”.

Still, relations between the Western countries and Iran remain tense. Washington had previously imposed extensive sanctions, encompassing attempting to compel every countries to avoid Iran's crude oil. Several rounds of mediated by Oman discussions in recent months between Iran and the US did not succeed to achieve an agreement.

Iran’s top diplomat, the deputy foreign minister, said last week that Iran did “not see any justification to engage in talks” with European powers, given that they triggered the snapback process.

Longstanding Allegations

European and American governments and Tel Aviv have for years accused Iran of attempting to obtain nuclear weapons, a claim Iran denies, claiming its programme is energy and civil-focused.

Tehran is anticipated to mark termination day with a announcement later on on Saturday at the United Nations in NYC.