Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)

News: US President Donald Trump has proposed renegotiating the Iran nuclear deal, despite having withdrawn from it in 2018. This move comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the US remain high, with Iran significantly increasing its uranium enrichment levels. Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

About Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)

• The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed in July 2015 between Iran and world powers (P5+1: U.S., U.K., France, Russia, China, and Germany), along with the European Union (EU).
• Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program and allow international inspections in exchange for sanctions relief worth billions of dollars.
• Purpose & Goals:
  • Prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and reduce the risk of regional conflict with rivals like Israel and Saudi Arabia.
  • Ensure that, if Iran pursued a nuclear weapon, it would take at least one year, allowing world powers to intervene.
  • Address concerns that a nuclear Iran could lead to an arms race in the Middle East.

Key Provisions of the JCPOA

1. Uranium Enrichment Limits: Iran agreed to cap its uranium enrichment at 3.67% purity, far below the 90% level needed for weapons-grade material.
2. Centrifuge Restrictions: Iran agreed to operate only 5,060 first-generation centrifuges at its Natanz nuclear facility for 10 years.
3. Heavy-Water Reactor Redesign: Iran had to redesign its Arak heavy-water reactor to prevent the production of weapons-grade plutonium.
4. International Inspections: Iran agreed to provisionally implement the Additional Protocol, allowing IAEA inspectors broader access to various sites. This includes locations where the agency needs to verify the absence of undeclared nuclear materials and activities.
5. Sanctions Relief: In exchange for these nuclear restrictions, the US, EU, and UN lifted economic sanctions on Iran, allowing it to regain access to frozen assets and resume international trade.