What Happened to Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)?

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, was a multilateral agreement finalized on July 14, 2015, between Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States), plus the European Union. Its primary objective was to ensure Iran's nuclear program remained exclusively peaceful by imposing verifiable restrictions on uranium enrichment and other nuclear activities, in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. The deal was formally adopted in October 2015 and implemented on January 16, 2016, after the IAEA verified Iran's initial compliance.

A pivotal turning point occurred on May 8, 2018, when the United States, under President Donald Trump, unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA, citing concerns that it failed to address Iran's ballistic missile program and its regional influence. This withdrawal led to the immediate reimposition of U.S. sanctions, which severely impacted Iran's economy. In response, starting in 2019, Iran began progressively breaching the deal's limits on uranium enrichment, stockpile size, and the deployment of advanced centrifuges, while also reducing cooperation with IAEA monitoring activities.

Tensions escalated dramatically in June 2025 when Israel, joined by the United States, launched military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, military sites, and regime infrastructure. This was followed by the expiration of several JCPOA sunset clauses in October 2025, and the E3 (France, Germany, UK) triggering the snapback mechanism to reinstate UN sanctions due to Iran's non-compliance. The situation deteriorated further, culminating in the outbreak of the 2026 Iran War on February 28, 2026, initiated by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that reportedly included the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes, and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, causing global economic disruption.

As of May 30, 2026, the conflict has seen a temporary ceasefire since April 8, 2026. U.S. and Iranian negotiators reportedly reached a tentative agreement on May 29, 2026, to extend this ceasefire by 60 days and commence a new round of talks on Iran's nuclear program. This proposed memorandum of understanding would also involve the gradual lifting of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports and a relaxation of sanctions to allow Iran to sell more oil, while Iran would remove mines from the Strait of Hormuz. However, President Donald Trump's final approval for this tentative deal is still pending, and Iran's Foreign Ministry has publicly denied that any nuclear negotiations are currently underway, asserting their focus is on ending the war. Concurrently, the U.S. Treasury Department continues to impose new sanctions on Iranian financial and shipping networks. Iran's current uranium stockpile, including 440.9 kg enriched to 60% purity, remains a central concern, with experts noting it could be sufficient for multiple nuclear weapons if further enriched.