Iran Had Signed A Nuclear Deal In 2015, Then Why The War With US In 2026?

Last Updated:April 22, 2026, 17:47 IST

The 2015 Iran nuclear deal was a landmark diplomatic agreement between Iran and a group of world powers known as the P5+1. News18 explains

The US began its strikes against Iran on February 28 over what it called nuclear concerns.

Did you know there was a 2015 Iran nuclear deal? What were the terms? What happened to it? News18 explains.

What is the 2015 Iran nuclear deal?

The 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was a landmark diplomatic agreement between Iran and a group of world powers known as the P5+1 (the United States, United Kingdom, France, China, Russia, and Germany).

The primary goal of the deal was to significantly limit Iran’s nuclear program to ensure it remained exclusively peaceful, in exchange for the lifting of crippling international economic sanctions, according to the US department of state.

What were the clauses? What were the nuclear curbs?

Under the agreement, Iran committed to several major technical constraints for 10 to 15 years:

Uranium Stockpile: Reduced its stockpile of enriched uranium by 98% (down to 300 kg).

Enrichment Level: Capped uranium enrichment at 3.67%, far below the 90% needed for a weapon.

Not A Nuclear Warhead, But It Is Still Iran’s Most Powerful Weapon In The War Against US Explained

Centrifuge Reduction: Cut its number of centrifuges by about two-thirds, from nearly 20,000 to 6,104, using only its oldest models.

Plutonium Path: Agreed to redesign the Arak heavy-water reactor so it could not produce weapons-grade plutonium and shipped all spent fuel out of the country.

Inspections: Granted the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) unprecedented access to its nuclear facilities and supply chain to verify compliance, according to BBC.

What was the sanctions relief?

In return for these concessions, the international community provided substantial economic benefits:

Iran gained access to over $100 billion in assets that had been frozen in overseas banks.

The UN, EU, and U.S. lifted nuclear-related sanctions on Iran’s oil, gas, banking, and automotive sectors.

The agreement set a five-year timeline to lift the UN conventional arms embargo and an eight-year timeline for ballistic missile restrictions.

Why was it withdrawn?

The deal has been in a state of near-collapse since 2018, when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the pact and reinstated “maximum pressure" sanctions. In response, Iran began gradually exceeding the deal’s limits on uranium enrichment and stockpiling.

Why is it 2015 Iran nuclear deal considered obsolete in 2026?

Iran officially declared the agreement terminated in October 2025 after 10 years, following the “snapback" of UN sanctions triggered by European signatories in response to Iranian non-compliance.

Lights Out, Ships In: How Did 2 Iranian Tankers Sneak Past US Naval Blockade Of Strait Of Hormuz? Explained

Deepening tensions led to the 2026 Iran War, involving large-scale U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure.

Current IAEA reports indicate Iran has enriched uranium to near-weapons-grade levels (over 60% purity), leaving its “breakout time" at practically zero.

KEY FAQs

What was the 2015 Iran nuclear deal?

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was an agreement signed on July 14, 2015 between Iran and world powers (U.S., UK, France, Russia, China, Germany) to limit Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

What did Iran agree to under the deal?

Iran agreed to cap uranium enrichment at 3.67%, cut centrifuges, reduce stockpiles, and allow strict international inspections to prevent nuclear weapon development.

What did Iran get in return?

In return, the U.S., EU, and UN lifted major economic sanctions, unlocking billions in assets and allowing Iran to resume oil exports.

With agency inputs

News explainers Iran Had Signed A Nuclear Deal In 2015, Then Why The War With US In 2026? The Clauses, Agreement Explained

Read More