Resumed talks between the United States and Iran over restoring compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) last month underscored the inflexibility of the U.S. and Iranian positions on issues extraneous to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.

Censured for failing to cooperate with the IAEA, Iran retaliated by reducing the agency’s monitoring of its nuclear program.

Iran's disconnected cameras monitoring its nuclear program in retaliation for a resolution from the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors censuring Tehran for failing to cooperate with a years-long investigation into undeclared nuclear materials. The reduction in monitoring risks closing the window on efforts to restore the 2015 nuclear deal.

The most recent reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) detailing Tehran’s failure to declare illicit nuclear activities from its pre-2003 program and the continued growth of Iran’s nuclear program underscores the urgency and importance of restoring mutual U.S. and Iranian compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

European negotiators traveled to Tehran in May to break a stalemate but prospects for restoring the Iran deal remain dim.

EU negotiators traveled to Tehran to try and restart stalled negotiations over restoring U.S. and Iranian compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, as the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran's nuclear program continues to grow.

Experts note that if President Biden fails to bring negotiations with Iran to a successful conclusion, Iran could further improve its capacity to produce weapons-grade nuclear material.