The agreement between the United States and Iran, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was a historic multinational agreement reached on July 14, 2015, after years of negotiations.
The main goal of the agreement was to limit Iran`s nuclear program and prevent it from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons. In exchange for limitations on the nuclear program, the US and other members of the P5+1 group (China, France, Russia, the UK, and Germany) agreed to lift economic sanctions on Iran.
Under the terms of the agreement, Iran was required to limit its uranium enrichment levels, reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium, and agree to inspections and monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In addition, Iran was prohibited from building any new nuclear facilities for a period of time.
In return, the US and other nations agreed to lift economic sanctions on Iran, including those related to Iran`s oil industry, banking, and other sectors. These sanctions were a major source of pressure on Iran and had caused significant economic hardship for the country.
The JCPOA was a major achievement in US foreign policy, representing a diplomatic breakthrough after years of tension between the US and Iran. However, it was also controversial, with critics arguing that it gave Iran too much leeway and did not go far enough in preventing the country from eventually developing nuclear weapons.
In May 2018, President Donald Trump announced that the US would withdraw from the JCPOA and reimpose sanctions on Iran, citing Iran`s support for terrorism and its ballistic missile program as reasons for the decision. Other members of the P5+1 group have continued to support the JCPOA, but the future of the agreement remains uncertain.