What is the Iran nuclear deal?

Iran and a six-nation negotiating group reached a landmark agreement known as the Joint
Comprehensive Plan of Action in July 2015. It ended 12 years of deadlock over Tehran’s nuclear
programme. Struck in Vienna after nearly two years of intensive talks, the deal limited the Iranian
programme to reassure the rest of the world that it would be unable to develop nuclear weapons, in
return for sanctions relief.
At its core, the JCPOA is a straightforward bargain. Iran’s acceptance of strict limits on its
nuclear programme in return for an escape from the sanctions that grew up around its economy over
a decade prior to the accord. Under the deal, Iran unplugged two-thirds of its centrifuges, shipped out
98% of its enriched uranium and filled its plutonium production reactor with concrete.
Tehran also accepted extensive monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which
has verified 10 times since the agreement, and as recently as February, that Tehran has complied with
its terms. In return, all nuclear-related sanctions were lifted in January 2016, reconnecting Iran to
global markets.

Which countries are involved?

The six major powers involved in the nuclear talks with Iran were in a group known as the P5+1:
the UN security council’s five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the UK and the US – and
Germany. The nuclear deal is also enshrined in a UN security council resolution that incorporated it
into international law. The 15 members of the council at the time unanimously endorsed the
agreement.

Why does Donald Trump want to scrap it?

Donald Trump’s victory in the November 2016 US election put the fate of the deal in doubt.
As Barack Obama’s signature foreign policy achievements, Trump promised before his election to
“dismantle the disastrous deal with Iran”, although many believed he might instead adopt a more
rigorous implementation of the agreement and tighten sanctions already in place. This could force
Tehran to violate first or make the deal redundant.

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 In January, he reluctantly waived a raft of sanctions against Iran as required by Congress every
120 days, but said “this is a last chance” and asked “European countries to join with the United States
in fixing significant flaws in the deal”. The congressional deadline Trump faces this time is 12 May, but
he tweeted on Monday that he will announce his decision by Tuesday.
Trump believes the agreement is a bad deal, which falls short of addressing Iran’s regional
behaviour or its missile programme. He is emboldened by a group of Iran hawks in his inner circle,
such as the national security adviser, John Bolton, and the secretary of state, Mike Pompeo. Critics
also say it is another example of Trump dismantling Obama’s achievements and legacy.

Why do others want to save it?

Except for the US, all other P5+1 negotiating partners want to keep the agreement. In the words
of Boris Johnson, the UK foreign secretary, who has visited Washington DC to lobby Trump not to
scuttle the agreement, “of all the options we have for ensuring that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon,
this pact offers the fewest disadvantages”.
After the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, unveiled a cache of documents that he
claimed showed Iran was cheating on the agreement, European countries pushed back against this,
saying the documents underlined the importance of keeping it.
[Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/08/iran-nuclear-deal-what-is-it-why-does-trump-
want-to-scrap-it]

1. to reach a landmark agreement: reach an important consensus

2. deadlock (n): a situation in which agreement in argument cannot be reached
3. to strike a deal: come to an agreement
4. at its core: inherently
5. prior to sth: before a particular time
6. to lift sanctions: to stop sanctions - official orders agianst a country to stop its trade
7. to be enshrined in sth: if a political or social is enshrined in something, it is protected by being
included in it.
8. to incorporate sth into sth else: to include something as part of something larger
9. unanimous (adj): to be completely agreed by everyone
10. put the fate of sth in doubt: to make something’s future prospects seem uncertain
11. to adopt an implementation: to start using a plan or system
12. a raft of sth: a large number or range of sth

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13. fall short of: to fail to reach an an amount or standard that was expected
14. to embolden: to make someone brave
15. hawk (n): a person who supports the use of force in political relationships
16. to scuttle (v): to stop something from happening
17. pact (n): a formal agreement
18. to unveil a cache of documents: to show secret and hidden documents

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