The 2015 iran nuclear agreement is breaking apart, raising the risk not just of a nuclear weapons capability for iran, but also of a military clash in the persian gulf. Successful implementation of this jcpoa will enable iran to fully enjoy its right. Present outstanding issues regarding irans nuclear program 1. Status congressional research service security council resolution 2231, which the council adopted on july 20, 2015, compose the current legal framework governing iran s nuclear program.
This fact, together with the information revealed by the smuggling out by the israelis of irans nuclear weapons program archive, belies tehrans oftexpressed claim that its nuclear program. Prior to that, iran had been engaged in efforts to acquire the. Oct 06, 2010 iran intensified its drive toward nuclear weapons in the 1980s during the iraniraq war, following reports of an iraqi clandestine nuclear program. The joint comprehensive plan of action jcpoa is an agreement reached by iran, the united states, britain, france, china, russia, and germany regarding irans nuclear program. Apr 02, 2015 details of agreement to limit irans nuclear program april 2, 2015 iran and six world powers agreed on key parameters for an accord regarding tehrans nuclear program, with the details to be. Diplomatic efforts to reach a comprehensive, longterm and proper solution to the iranian nuclear issue culminated in the joint comprehensive plan of. On 14 july 2015, the director general yukiya amano and the vicepresident of the islamic republic of iran, president of the atomic energy organization of iran, ali akbar salehi signed in vienna a roadmap for the clarification of past and present outstanding issues regarding irans nuclear program. Jan 07, 2020 the 2015 iran nuclear agreement is breaking apart, raising the risk not just of a nuclear weapons capability for iran, but also of a military clash in the persian gulf. Status congressional research service iran and the iaea agreed in 2007 on a work plan to clarify outstanding questions regarding tehrans nuclear program, most of which concerned possible iranian procurement activities and research directly applicable to nuclear weapons development. The accord will end decades of economic sanctions against iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program. This is a brief history of iran s progress toward the ability to build a nuclear weapon.
Much hinges on the iran nuclear deal brokered in july. Jul 20, 2015 security council, adopting resolution 2231 2015, endorses joint comprehensive agreement on irans nuclear programme. Tehrans compliance with international obligations congressional research service 3 the july 2015 joint comprehensive plan of action jcpoa states that tehran will complete a series of steps set out in an iraniaea roadmap for clarification of past and present outstanding issues. During this time, omani envoys also carried secret messages containing important terms of negotiations between the u. Iranian leaders advanced irans nuclear weapons program in the 1990s and early 2000s along with its civil nuclear program, using the latter as a symbol of national pride. Nuclear deal with iran establishes plan for sanctions relief. This time frame is more appropriate for estimating capabilities than intentions and foreign reactions, which are more difficult to estimate over a decade. Nov 15, 2019 irans nuclear capabilities have been the subject of global handwringing for more than two decades. In the coming years, most restrictions on irans nuclear program will lift, allowing it to become a nuclear weapons threshold state. Iran has agreed to steps with the iaea to address the possible military dimensions of irans past program or pmd. The nuclear programme and facilities iran must provide an expanded declaration on all aspects of its past and current nuclear programme. Increasingly isolated, tehran struggled to acquire arms to fight iraq, which used chemical weapons and had a nuclear weapons program.
Iran intensified its drive toward nuclear weapons in the 1980s during the iraniraq war, following reports of an iraqi clandestine nuclear program. Since 2006, iran has distinguished the twentieth of farvardin as its national nuclear technology day, an opportunity to unveil and often exaggerate advancements in the countrys nuclear program while glorifying the regimes persistence in the face of western sanctions. Even as late as april of 2015, president obama made calls to discuss the nuclear deal with oman, even. Irans interest in nuclear technology dates to the 1950s, when the shah of iran received technical assistance under the u. Oct 06, 2010 irans nuclear program, initially cancelled after the 1979 revolution, was revived in the closing phases of the 19801988 war with iraq. World powers express serious concerns about irans nuclear program meeting of remaining signatories to 2015 nuke deal in vienna looks to keep accord alive, despite us withdrawal, sanctions. The pandemics implications for irans nuclear program the. The pandemics implications for irans nuclear program. On july 14, 2015, the same day that the jcpoa was announced.
Resolution 2231 2015 on iran nuclear issue united nations. Iran may develop a nuclear weapons program in response to a thensuspected iraqi nuclear weapons program, although iran was not one of several countries of near to medium term proliferation concern to which the paper referred. All excess centrifuges and cascade piping are to be removed for iaea monitored storage. Irans natanz uranium enrichment plant is to have 20004000 operable ir1 centrifuges.
Iran s nuclear program was launched in the 1950s with the help of the united states as part of the atoms for peace program. The participation of the united states and western european governments in irans nuclear program continued until the 1979 iranian revolution that toppled the last shah of iran. Joint comprehensive plan of action vienna, 14 july 2015 preface. Details of agreement to limit irans nuclear program the. Under its terms, iran is never allowed to build a nuclear weapon. Full text of the iran nuclear deal historic deal reached with iran to limit nuclear program. Iran reaffirms that under no circumstances will iran ever seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons. For more information about the july 2015 joint comprehensive plan of action jcpoa concerning irans nuclear program, see crs report r43333, iran nuclear agreement, by kenneth katzman and paul k. On 16 january 2016, all nuclear related sanctions on iran were lifted in response to its progress meeting key metrics of the deal.
This research is aimed at obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the nuclear issue and its linkage to regional security. On 16 january 2016, all nuclearrelated sanctions on iran were lifted in response to its progress meeting key metrics of the deal. The jcpoa only temporarily restricts tehrans nuclear program. From confrontation to accord, chapter 7 september 9, 2016. A longterm strategy must be developed to ensure irans nuclear program is peaceful. The politics of irans nuclear program the iran primer.
English for official use only final assessment on past and present outstanding issues regarding irans nuclear programme report by the director general a. The deal legitimized irans nuclear program, left a vast nuclear infrastructure in place, and largely expires after only 15 years. And while iran, like any party to the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, is allowed to access peaceful nuclear energy, the agreement strictly defines the manner in which its nuclear program can proceed, ensuring that all pathways to a bomb are cut off. From confrontation to accord oxford university press, 2016. On july 14, 2015, the united states, the eu, russia, china, and iran signed the joint commission plan of action.
Joint comprehensive plan of action vienna, 14 july 2015. Security council, adopting resolution 2231 2015, endorses joint comprehensive agreement on irans nuclear programme. Details of agreement to limit irans nuclear program april 2, 2015 iran and six world powers agreed on key parameters for an accord regarding tehrans nuclear program, with the details to be. Iran has stockpiled 1,200 kilograms, or about 2,600 pounds, which is well beyond what the 2015 nuclear deal between tehran and world powers allowed, an official said. Joyner, daniel, irans nuclear program and international law. It also stated, however, that it will continue to cooperate with the iaea and expressed its willingness to return to the deal if the economic sanctions are lifted. As agreed in the roadmap, on 15 august 2015, iran provided to the agency its explanations in writing and related documents, on past and present outstanding issues. This time frame is more appropriate for estimating capabilities than intentions and foreign reactions, which are more difficult to estimate over a. Irans nuclear weapons program was part of a broader attempt to become more selfreliant in arms and technology in the 1980s. On 14 july 2015, the director general yukiya amano and the vicepresident of the islamic republic of iran, president of the atomic energy organization of iran, ali akbar salehi signed in vienna a roadmap for the clarification of past and present outstanding issues regarding. Tehrans compliance with international obligations congressional research service 2 possible military dimensions to irans nuclear programme. What the smuggled archive tells us about irans nuclear. While irans leaders long insisted the country was not building nuclear weapons, its.
This national intelligence estimate nie assesses the status of iran s nuclear program, and the program s outlook over the next 10 years. Irans nuclear program was launched in the 1950s with the help of the united states as part of the atoms for peace program. Iran resumes uranium enrichment in new step away from nuclear deal nation has inched away from 2015 agreement after donald trump imposed tough us sanctions published. Details of agreement to limit irans nuclear program. While this assistance ended with the 1979 iranian revolution, iran remained interested in nuclear technology and developed an extensive nuclear fuel cycle, including sophisticated enrichment. The emphasis is on achievements, rather than motives. The participation of the united states and western european governments in iran s nuclear program continued until the 1979 iranian revolution that toppled the last shah of iran. Tehran wanted to guard against a future surprise analogous to iraqs repeated use of chemical weapons.
Security council, adopting resolution 2231 2015, endorses. The iran nuclear deal framework was a preliminary framework agreement reached in 2015 between the islamic republic of iran and a group of world powers. Final assessment on past and present outstanding issues. Irans nuclear capabilities have been the subject of global handwringing for more than two decades. The iran nuclear deal the belfer center for science and. It came after years of tension over irans alleged efforts to develop a nuclear weapon. The iranian nuclear programme henry jackson society. Diplomatic efforts to reach a comprehensive, longterm and proper solution to the iranian nuclear issue culminated in the joint comprehensive plan of action jcpoa concluded on 14 july 2015 by.
Whereas, the nuclear weapon free iran act of 2015 complies with the commitment the president made that the united states would impose no new sanctions during the course of negotiations with iran. The joint comprehensive plan of action and developments since july 2015. Dilemmas, responses and the future 1 the iranian nuclear issue and security in the persian gulf have long been high on the united nations peace and security agenda. This national intelligence estimate nie assesses the status of irans nuclear program, and the programs outlook over the next 10 years. On july 14, 2015, iran and the six powers that have negotiated with iran about its nuclear program since 2006 the united states, the united kingdom, skip to content center for homeland defense and security. Iran has stockpiled 1,200 kilograms, or about 2,600 pounds, which is well beyond what the 2015 nuclear deal between tehran and world powers allowed, an. Iaea director general yukiya amano and the head of. Timeline of nuclear diplomacy with iran arms control. For more detailed information about irans nuclear program, see crs report rl34544, irans nuclear program. Full text of the iran nuclear deal washington post. Tehran has announced it is withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal following the killing by the us of quds commander qassem soleimani.
This is chapter 7 of the book irans nuclear program and international law. Iran insisted that its nuclear programme was entirely peaceful. As an apparent act of defiance against western countries reluctance to support it against us sanctions, iran has begun to enrich uranium beyond the level permitted by the nuclear deal. David albright, an expert on irans nuclear program and president of the institute for science and international security, estimates iran is producing roughly 2. The deal legitimized irans nuclear program, left a vast nuclear. This report by the director general to the board of governors, in line with the roadmap for. Iran agreed to limit its nuclear development program in return for the end of economic sanctions.
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