Iran has threatened a third breach of limits imposed on its nuclear program by the JCPOA, and a recent IAEA report poses questions about Tehran’s cooperation with the Agency’s safeguards inspections. European efforts to salvage the Iran Deal have come to a standstill. Complicating matters further, the United States and the E3 have blamed Iran for a September attack on a Saudi Arabian oil refinery.
While Iran’s decision to breach a third JCPOA nuclear limit does not pose a near-term proliferation risk, it is worrisome and could be followed by more serious steps if the United States continues to reject reasonable offers for dialogue and for easing tensions.
Iran exceeds limits set by the 2015 nuclear deal.
Kelsey Davenport guest authored this contribution to the U.S. Institute of Peace's "The Iran Primer" following Iran's uranium enrichment level breach earlier this month.
A new report details the extent to which 11 key states are fulfilling, promoting, or undermining 10 standards identified as critical elements of the nonproliferation and disarmament regime.
This new report is the fourth in a series that assesses the extent to which 11 key states are fulfilling, promoting, or undermining 10 standards identified as critical elements of the nonproliferation and disarmament regime. Collectively, states fared worse on the majority of criteria when compared with the prior edition covering the 2013–2016 period.
The Trump administration’s apparent redline with Iran is unnecessary, unwise, and dangerous.
Iran is increasing its stocks of enriched uranium and heavy water, nearing the limits set by the 2015 nuclear deal.
An increase in Iran’s low-enriched uranium stockpile above the JCPOA-mandated limits does not in itself pose a near-term proliferation risk, and it is critical that the Trump administration does not overreact to this breach and further escalate tensions.
A joint statement from Americans for Peace Now, Arms Control Association, Council for a Livable World, Foreign Policy for America, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Indivisible, J Street, MoveOn, NIAC Action, Ploughshares Fund, VoteVets and Win Without War.
Iran’s decision to breach caps imposed by the accord is a troubling but predictable response to the Trump administration’s systematic campaign to deny Iran any benefit from the nuclear deal over the past year.
Tensions between the United States and Iran continue to rise after the Trump administration questions Iran’s decision to install additional advanced centrifuges and accuses the country of attacking oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, while members of Congress seek to restrict funding for military action against Iran.
While Iran appears to be exercising restraint and remaining in compliance with the JCPOA, its threats to violate the deal jeopardizes the future of the accord and risks reigniting a nuclear crisis.
One year after the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Tehran says it will not abide by some of the agreement’s limits.