What is the Iran nuclear deal?

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European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Secretary of State John Kerry stand together in July 2015. Copyright Carlos Barria
By F. Brinley Bruton and Reuters and The Associated Press with NBC News World News
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The agreement was aimed at ensuring that Tehran's nuclear program "will be exclusively peaceful" in return for the lifting of sanctions.

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The Iran nuclear deal, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), offered Tehran billion of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for it agreeing to curb its nuclear program.

The agreement was aimed at ensuring that "Iran's nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful." In return, it lifted U.N. Security Council and other sanctions, including in areas covering trade, technology, finance and energy.

Iranians celebrate after the preliminary nuclear deal was reached in April 2015.
Iranians celebrate after the preliminary nuclear deal was reached in April 2015.Ebrahim Noroozi

The deal was sealed in July 2015, during the presidency of Barack Obama.

Tehran acceded to a 10-year restriction on nuclear production, agreed to shut down thousands of centrifuges and exported almost all of its bomb-making material. Under the agreement, Iran agreed that "under no circumstances will Iran ever seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons."

Iran also allowed a strict monitoring regime permitting international inspectors to gain access to sites suspected of nuclear weapons-related activities.

The agreement did allow for a commercial nuclear program "for exclusively peaceful purposes."

Who signed it?

Iran signed the agreement with the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council — the U.S., Russia, France, China, United Kingdom — as well as Germany and the European Union.

Why is the deal controversial?

As of April 2018, there is broad consensus that Iran is abiding by the agreement.

However, some critics allege that the deal itself is flawed and does not prevent Iran from engaging in aggressive actions that fall outside the pact's purview, such as pursuing a ballistic missile program and expiration dates on some restrictions, as well as extending its influence throughout the region.

President Donald Trump has made no secret of his dislike for the agreement, calling it "the worst deal ever" while on the campaign trail. Since coming to office, he has vowed to withdraw from the agreement unless U.S. and European negotiators fix its "disastrous flaws."

On the other hand, some experts see the Iran nuclear deal as a good scenario for denuclearizing North Korea.

While the two cases are "very different," Iran offers lessons to those involved in similar negotiations with North Korea, according to Suzanne DiMaggio, a senior fellow at New America, a Washington think tank where she directs a long-running U.S.-Iran policy dialogue.

"The process of diplomacy that the United States pursued with Iran could offer some insights on how to begin engagement with an adversary whose leadership is extremely distrustful of the United States and vice versa," she wrote in a post for the Arms Control Association.

Who else opposes it?

Regional U.S. allies, such as Saudi Arabia and Israel, are also vehemently against the agreement saying it has not worked to curb Iran's aggressiveness or ambitions.

Some of Iran policies in the Middle East run counter to U.S. interests and those of its allies. Tehran threatens Israel, backs Hezbollah — a powerful Lebanese militia and political group — and is involved in conflicts in Yemen, Iraq and Bahrain.

Workers stand in front of Iran\'s Bushehr nuclear power plant in 2010.
Workers stand in front of Iran\'s Bushehr nuclear power plant in 2010.Stringer

The Trump White House has also been critical of Iran for its support of President Bashar al-Assad during Syria's vicious seven-year civil war.

How widespread is support for the deal?

Other countries that signed the deal with the U.S., including allies France, Britain and France, have called on Washington to stick to the agreement.

France's President Emmanuel Macron has said that while it was imperfect, there was no "Plan B."

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also defended the pact, saying an imperfect deal is better than no deal and that her country will "watch very closely" to ensure it is being fulfilled.

Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif says it is "not negotiable."

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