An Iranian flag fluttering at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant in 2019. Tehran says its nuclear power programme is energy and civil-focused

Iran Announces Official End to 10-Year-Old Nuclear Deal

Tehran (Reuters-style) – Iran on Saturday declared the official end of its 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), marking a formal close to a deal that once aimed to limit the country’s nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that “all provisions of the 2015 deal, including restrictions on the nuclear program, are now terminated,” while reaffirming its “firm commitment to diplomacy.”

What Was the JCPOA?

The JCPOA was signed in Vienna in 2015 by Iran, the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France, and Germany. The landmark agreement was designed to curb Iran’s nuclear capabilities in return for lifting international sanctions.
However, the deal had been faltering for years.

In 2018, then-U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the accord, reimposing sanctions that had been lifted under the deal. Trump criticized the pact—brokered under his predecessor Barack Obama—and acted under pressure from Israel to adopt a tougher stance on Tehran.

Since then, Iran has gradually scaled up its nuclear activities beyond the limits set by the agreement.

Europe’s Failed Diplomatic Efforts

European-led attempts to revive the deal repeatedly collapsed.
This summer’s airstrikes by Israel and the U.S. further strained hopes of a diplomatic revival.

Following a brief conflict in June, Iran’s parliament passed legislation suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog.

In response, Britain, France, and Germany triggered the so-called “snapback” mechanism, which automatically reimposed U.N. sanctions on Iran. The mechanism took effect on October 18, 2025, ten years after the adoption of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231.

Europe: “Diplomacy Must Continue”

Despite the collapse of the deal, European leaders maintain that diplomacy remains essential.

Foreign ministers from Britain, France, and Germany issued a joint statement saying they would “continue to seek a diplomatic solution to ensure Iran never develops a nuclear weapon.”

The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, added that sanctions “should not mark the end of diplomacy,” emphasizing that “sustainable solutions come only through negotiation.”

Trump and Tehran: Talk of Peace

Earlier this week, Donald Trump said he wanted to reach a peace deal with Iran, signaling potential openness to future dialogue.

Iran, too, has expressed readiness to engage with Washington—if the U.S. provides assurances against military action during any talks.

However, Iran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, said last week that Tehran “sees no reason to negotiate” with European powers after the snapback sanctions were reimposed.

Tensions Remain High

Relations between Iran and Western powers remain tense.
The U.S. and Israel accuse Tehran of secretly pursuing nuclear weapons, a claim Iran strongly denies, maintaining its nuclear program is focused solely on energy and civilian purposes.

Iran is expected to mark the occasion with a formal statement later on Saturday at the United Nations headquarters in New York, referring to the date as “Termination Day.”

Summary

• The 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal is officially terminated.

• The U.S. withdrew under Donald Trump in 2018.

• Europe’s diplomatic revival efforts failed.

• UN sanctions were reimposed through the snapback process.

• Iran insists it remains committed to diplomacy, while Western powers call for renewed negotiations.