A global agreement with Iran intended to make the world secure from the proliferation of atomic weapons has come to a formal end, as Tehran declared the closure of the decade-old pact.
Iran announced on 18th October that it was no longer subject to the 2015 accord, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), under which global sanctions were rolled back in return for curbs on Tehran’s nuclear program.
From this point forward, “all of the provisions [of the 2015 agreement], including the limits on the Iranian nuclear programme and the accompanying mechanisms are held to be terminated”, Iran’s foreign ministry stated in a statement.
But it added that the nation “categorically reiterates its commitment to diplomacy”.
Signed in Vienna by Iran, China, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and the US, the hope was that it would bring to an end the decades-long diplomatic standoff and signal a new era in relations between Iran and the West.
Although the agreement technically runs out on Saturday, it has been in shambles for years.
In 2018, during his initial term as president, Donald Trump surprised his European allies by unilaterally withdrawing the US from the agreement and reimposing sanctions. He was opposed to the agreement, inked by one of his predecessors, Barack Obama, and was dissuaded from diplomacy by Iran’s arch-rival, Israel.
Because of the US withdrawal, Tehran started escalating its nuclear programme.
The European-led efforts to revive the deal have broken down, and Israel and the US’s bombing missions this summer over Iran sent hope for revival to an all-time low.
Iran’s parliament approved a bill to not comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear inspector, after the 12-day war in June.
That prompted signatories Britain, Germany, and France to initiate the so-called “snapback” mechanism, which resulted in the re-imposition of the UN sanctions. The snapback clause provides for the quick and automatic re-imposition of all UN sanctions terminated under the agreement if Iran were to seriously breach its nuclear obligations.
Those snapback sanctions effectively made a ceremony of “termination day”, which was slated for 18 October, precisely 10 years since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
Last month, when the snapback sanctions came into force, the British, French, and German foreign ministers issued a joint statement that they would continue to pursue “a new diplomatic solution to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon”.
The EU’s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, said the sanctions “must not be the end of diplomacy” and that “a sustainable solution to the Iranian nuclear issue can only be achieved through negotiations”.
On Monday, Trump stated that he desired a peace agreement with Iran, while Tehran has continually indicated it is willing to engage in diplomacy with the US, as long as Washington provides assurances against hostilities, and there could be talks.
The three EU powers also last week said they would try to resume negotiations to establish a “comprehensive, durable and verifiable agreement”.
Nevertheless, the relationship between Iran and the West remains tense. Washington had already placed significant sanctions, including attempting to make all nations avoid Iranian oil. Multiple rounds of Oman-brokered negotiations this year between Washington and Tehran failed to reach an agreement.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, last week stated that there was “no reason to negotiate” with European powers as they had invoked the snapback mechanism.
Western nations and Israel have for a long time accused Iran of wanting to develop nuclear weapons, something Tehran rejects, stating that its programme is peaceful and energy-oriented.
Iran will likely celebrate the termination day with a press statement later on Saturday at the UN in New York.
