JCPOA Nuclear Deal

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was finalised in Vienna on 14 July 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 (US, UK, France, Russia, China, Germany) plus the EU. After 20 months of negotiations, Iran agreed to limit uranium enrichment to 3.67%, reduce its centrifuge count to 5,060 at Natanz, repurpose Fordow for non-enrichment research, and redesign the Arak heavy water reactor to eliminate plutonium production — all in exchange for lifting of UN, EU, and US nuclear-related sanctions. Mohammad Javad Zarif led Iran's negotiating team alongside Abbas Araghchi and Ali Akbar Salehi. Hassan Rouhani championed the deal domestically against fierce hardliner opposition led by Saeed Jalili and Mahmoud Nabavian. The deal went into effect on 16 January 2016 ('Implementation Day') after IAEA verification. It was publicly opposed by Israel and Saudi Arabia.