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An significant global agreement intended to prevent the spread of atomic arms has formally concluded, with Iran announcing the conclusion of the decade-old accord.

Landmark Agreement Officially Ended

The Iranian government announced on the weekend that it was not obligated by the 2015 agreement, officially known as the JCPOA, under which international restrictions were lifted in return for restrictions on Tehran's atomic programme.

From now on “all of the terms [of the 2015 deal], encompassing the restrictions on the Iranian nuclear program and the related processes are considered concluded”, the Iranian ministry of foreign affairs announced in a statement.

Nevertheless, it added that the country “strongly declares its dedication to diplomacy”.

Context of the Agreement

Concluded in the Austrian capital by Tehran, China, Britain, Paris, Germany, Moscow and the America, the pact hoped to end the long-standing political dispute and signify the start of a new era in relations between Tehran and the west.

While the agreement formally ends on the weekend, it has been in disarray for a long time.

Key Events Preceding the End

• Back in 2018, in his initial presidency, Donald Trump displeased his European allies by unilaterally taking the US out of the deal and reinstating restrictions.
• Consequently of the American exit, Tehran started increasing its atomic activities.
• European-led talks to restore the pact have failed, and this summer’s airstrikes on Iran by Israel and the US left hopes for a revival at a historic low point.

Latest Events

After the 12-day war in last June, Iran’s legislature passed a bill to refuse to cooperate with the IAEA, the UN’s atomic monitoring body.

That resulted in participants Britain, Germany and Paris triggering the so-called “snapback” process, leading to the re-imposition of the UN sanctions.

Those automatic sanctions in practice made a symbolic step of “termination day”, which was set for 18 October, precisely 10 years after the adoption of UN security council resolution 2231.

Global Reactions

Last month, when the snapback restrictions went into effect, the British, Paris and Berlin top diplomats said in a joint statement they would persist to seek “a new political solution to guarantee Iran never acquires a atomic bomb”.

The EU's chief diplomat, the EU foreign policy chief, said the sanctions “must not be the end of negotiations” and that “a lasting resolution to the Iran's nuclear issue can only be attained through negotiations”.

Future Prospects

On Monday, former President Trump stated that he wanted a peace deal with Iran, while Iran has repeatedly affirmed it is open to diplomacy with the United States, provided Washington provides assurances against armed conflict during any possible discussions.

The three European powers also last week announced they would seek to resume talks to find a “comprehensive, long-lasting and confirmable deal”.

Still, ties between the west and Tehran remain tense. The US had already enforced extensive restrictions, including trying to force all countries to shun Iranian crude oil. Several rounds of Omani-brokered discussions in recent months between Tehran and Washington did not succeed to reach an agreement.

The Iranian top diplomat, the deputy foreign minister, stated recently that Tehran did “perceive no any justification to negotiate” with European powers, considering that they activated the automatic reinstatement mechanism.

Persistent Accusations

Western governments and Israel have long accused Iran of attempting to obtain nuclear arms, a claim Tehran denies, stating its program is energy and civil-focused.

Tehran is anticipated to observe the official end date with a statement subsequently on the weekend at the United Nations in New York.