A major global agreement designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons has formally ended, with Tehran declaring the conclusion of the decade-old accord.
Landmark Agreement Formally Ended
Iran announced on the weekend that it was free from obligations by the 2015 agreement, formally called the JCPOA, under which international restrictions were removed in return for restrictions on Tehran's atomic program.
Henceforth “every one of the stipulations [of the 2015 deal], including the restrictions on the Iran's atomic programme and the associated processes are deemed concluded”, the Iranian ministry of foreign affairs stated in a statement.
However, it noted that the country “firmly declares its commitment to diplomacy”.
Context of the Deal
Agreed upon in Vienna by Iran, Beijing, Britain, France, Berlin, Russia and the US, the agreement hoped to end the years-long political standoff and signify the start of a fresh chapter in ties between Tehran and the west.
While the deal officially expires on the weekend, it has been in turmoil for a long time.
Key Events Preceding the Termination
- In 2018, in his initial presidency, President Trump angered his EU partners by independently taking the United States from the agreement and reinstating sanctions.
- Therefore of the American exit, Iran began escalating its atomic programme.
- EU-brokered negotiations to revive the agreement have failed, and recent military attacks on Tehran by Tel Aviv and the US left hopes for a renewal at a historic low point.
Latest Developments
Following the 12-day conflict in last June, the Iranian parliament approved a law to decline to cooperate with the IAEA, the United Nations' atomic monitoring body.
That resulted in participants the UK, Germany and Paris triggering the so-called “snapback” process, resulting in the re-imposition of the UN restrictions.
Those snapback measures in effect made a symbolic step of “the end date”, which was set for 18 October, exactly 10 years after the adoption of Resolution 2231.
International Responses
Last month, when the snapback sanctions were implemented, the British, Paris and German top diplomats said in a joint statement they would persist to pursue “a new diplomatic resolution to guarantee Tehran does not acquires a atomic weapon”.
The European Union’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, remarked the measures “cannot be the conclusion of negotiations” and that “a sustainable solution to the Iran's atomic issue can solely be achieved through negotiations”.
Prospective Prospects
On Monday, former President Trump said that he wanted a peace deal with Tehran, while Iran has repeatedly affirmed it remains open to diplomacy with the US, on condition that Washington offers guarantees against armed conflict during any potential talks.
The 3 European nations also recently declared they would seek to resume talks to find a “all-encompassing, long-lasting and confirmable deal”.
However, relations between the Western countries and Tehran remain tense. The US had previously enforced extensive restrictions, including attempting to compel every countries to avoid Iran's oil. Several sessions of Omani-brokered talks this year between Iran and Washington did not succeed to reach an agreement.
The Iranian top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, stated last week that Iran did “perceive no any reason to engage in talks” with EU nations, given that they activated the automatic reinstatement mechanism.
Longstanding Allegations
Western governments and Tel Aviv have for years alleged Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear arms, a allegation Tehran denies, stating its program is energy and for peaceful purposes.
Tehran is expected to observe the official end date with a statement later on on the weekend at the UN in NYC.
