Iran Declares End to Nuclear Deal Restrictions as Landmark 2015 Pact Officially Expires
Iran has announced that it is no longer bound by restrictions on its nuclear programme following the official expiration of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Despite the development, Tehran reaffirmed its commitment to diplomacy, signaling it is still open to dialogue amid escalating regional tensions and renewed international scrutiny.
In a statement issued on Saturday — marking exactly ten years since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which enshrined the agreement — Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that all provisions and restrictions of the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), are now terminated.
“From now on, all of the provisions, including the restrictions on the Iranian nuclear programme and related mechanisms, are considered terminated,” the ministry said, adding that Iran remains committed to diplomacy and peaceful engagement.
A Decade-Old Deal Reaches Its End
The JCPOA was signed in 2015 between Iran and six major world powers — the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China, and Russia — after years of tense negotiations. The agreement lifted long-standing international sanctions on Iran in exchange for strict limits on its nuclear enrichment activities, designed to prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons.
However, the deal began to unravel in 2018, when then-US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from the pact and reimposed harsh economic sanctions on Tehran. The decision dealt a severe blow to Iran’s economy and eroded trust between the two nations, prompting Tehran to gradually reduce its compliance with the agreement’s terms.
Since then, multiple attempts to revive the nuclear deal have faltered, leaving the future of nuclear diplomacy in limbo. Negotiations in Vienna, mediated by European powers, repeatedly stalled as both Washington and Tehran accused each other of failing to show good faith.
Snapback Sanctions and the Death of the JCPOA
Earlier this year, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany triggered the “snapback” mechanism, reinstating United Nations sanctions on Iran that were previously lifted under the JCPOA. The move effectively nullified the remaining benefits of the deal for Tehran and, according to experts, sealed its fate.
“Termination day is relatively meaningless due to snapback,” said Kelsey Davenport, an analyst at the Arms Control Association, speaking to AFP.
Ali Vaez, director of the International Crisis Group’s Iran Project, described the deal’s collapse as inevitable: “While the nuclear deal had been lifeless for years, the snapback has officially buried it. Its sorry fate continues to cast a long shadow over the future.”
Western powers and Israel have long accused Iran of secretly pursuing nuclear weapons — an allegation Tehran has consistently denied. Both US intelligence agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have stated that they have found no concrete evidence that Iran is currently developing atomic weapons.
Tehran’s Response: Defiance Coupled with Diplomacy
While declaring the formal end of the deal, Iran has sought to emphasize that it is not closing the door on diplomacy. The Foreign Ministry reiterated that Tehran is ready to engage with the international community, provided that negotiations are based on mutual respect and that the United States offers security guarantees against future military action.
“Iran firmly expresses its commitment to diplomacy,” the ministry’s statement repeated.
Still, officials in Tehran have made clear that the country will now pursue its nuclear programme without the limits once imposed by the JCPOA. That includes restrictions on uranium enrichment levels, research on advanced centrifuges, and stockpiling nuclear material — all of which were central components of the 2015 accord.
Rising Tensions and the June War
The expiration of the nuclear deal comes just months after a devastating 12-day war between Iran and Israel, in which the United States also launched joint strikes against Iranian military and nuclear facilities. The attacks killed more than 1,000 people, including hundreds of civilians, and caused billions of dollars in damage to Iran’s infrastructure.
Angered by the international community’s muted response — and particularly by the IAEA’s failure to condemn the strikes — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a law in July suspending all cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. Following the decision, IAEA inspectors were forced to leave the country.
The agency later expressed “serious concern” about its inability to monitor or verify Iran’s nuclear stockpile, warning that the lack of oversight could further heighten global tensions and undermine trust in Tehran’s intentions.
Calls for Renewed Negotiations
Despite the heightened tension, the European trio — the UK, France, and Germany — recently announced their intention to restart talks with Iran in hopes of reaching what they described as a “comprehensive, durable, and verifiable agreement.”
However, Iranian officials have shown little enthusiasm for the proposal. In a televised interview last week, Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi dismissed the European initiative, saying Tehran “does not see any reason to negotiate” with countries that triggered the snapback mechanism.
He argued that the West has repeatedly violated its promises, leaving Iran to face the consequences of economic isolation and international mistrust.
US-Iran Relations at a Crossroads
In Washington, President Donald Trump, now in his second term, said earlier this week that he is still open to a “peace deal” with Tehran but emphasized that “the ball is in Iran’s court.”
Analysts say deep mistrust remains on both sides. Iran remains skeptical of Washington’s intentions following years of sanctions and military confrontations, while US officials continue to push for a more expansive deal that addresses Iran’s regional influence and ballistic missile program.
“Iran remains sceptical of the utility of engaging with the US given its history with President Trump, while Washington still seeks a maximalist deal,” said Vaez.
A Pivotal Moment for the Region
As the 2015 nuclear deal officially becomes history, Iran finds itself at a crossroads. With no binding restrictions left, Tehran now faces mounting pressure to prove its nuclear ambitions remain peaceful while balancing growing domestic demands for economic relief.
Experts warn that the absence of an agreement could trigger a new nuclear arms race in the Middle East, with Israel and Gulf states potentially ramping up their own defense strategies.
For now, Iran’s message appears clear: the JCPOA may be over, but Tehran still wants diplomacy — on its own terms.