Iran has declared itself free from all restrictions of the 2015 nuclear deal, marking the pact's formal expiration a decade after it was signed. The Iranian foreign ministry stated that "all of the provisions... including the restrictions on the Iranian nuclear program and the related mechanisms are considered terminated," while simultaneously reiterating the country's "commitment to diplomacy" .
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), established in 2015, was designed to lift international sanctions on Iran in exchange for stringent limits on its nuclear program, including capping uranium enrichment at 3.67% and accepting rigorous oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) . The deal's "Termination Day" was set for October 18, 2025, exactly ten years after it was enshrined in UN Security Council Resolution 2231 . With that date now passed, Iran considers the agreement, which had been crumbling for years, to be officially over .
The collapse of the JCPOA is framed by Tehran as a direct consequence of a failure by other signatories to uphold their commitments. The United States unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018 during President Donald Trump's first term, abruptly reimposing harsh sanctions on Iran . This move shattered the economic relief that was central to the deal from Iran's perspective. European parties to the deal—Britain, France, and Germany—are also cited by Iran as having undermined the pact. Their recent push to reinstate UN sanctions through the "snapback" mechanism was seen in Tehran as an "irresponsible action" that sabotaged ongoing diplomatic efforts .
Iran's relationship with the IAEA has deteriorated significantly, further complicating the diplomatic landscape. Following Israeli and U.S. strikes on its nuclear facilities, Iran suspended cooperation with the agency in July, pointing to the IAEA's failure to condemn these attacks . Iranian officials have consistently accused the IAEA of a lack of neutrality and of operating on "fabricated intelligence" provided by third parties, a clear reference to Israel . Tehran has presented evidence, including video footage, suggesting that uranium traces found at undeclared sites were likely the result of foreign sabotage, arguing that the agency's inspections were guided by this compromised intelligence .
Despite the termination of the JCPOA, Iran maintains that the path of diplomacy remains open. The country has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, insisting its program is for purely peaceful civilian purposes such as energy production . The government has expressed a willingness to engage, but its trust in Western guarantees has been severely damaged by the experience of the JCPOA, where it fully complied only to see the U.S. abandon the deal and Europe fail to deliver meaningful sanctions relief . The future of its nuclear program and its relations with the West now hang in the balance, dependent on whether a new foundation for mutually respectful negotiations can be established .