The Iran Nuclear Deal Explained

Reaching a deal with Iran has been one of President Obama’s primary goals since entering office in 2008. It looks like he will finally achieve it. While the final terms of the agreement are being drafted from now until June 30, the preliminary details look promising. 

The New York Times reports that while the deal isn’t final it:

“Represents significant progress towards a lasting, comprehensive solution that cuts off all of Iran’s pathways to a bomb and verifiably ensures the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program going forward.”

According to RT, the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which were negotiated in Switzerland this week between Iran, China, France, Russia, UK, Germany, and the United States, are as follows:

• Iran has agreed to cut two-thirds of its centrifuges for the next 15 years, taking the number installed down to 6,104 from 19,000. Of these, 5,060 will be used for enrichment, or extracting nuclear fuel from uranium. Enrichment will not exceed 3.67%, meaning it will not be powerful enough to create nuclear weapons.
• The 6,104 centrifuges that Iran will keep are first generation and not technically advanced. This is important because it means it would take Tehran a very long time to build a bomb if it intends to do so down the line. Prior to the agreement, the time it would take Iran to acquire enough fissile material for one weapon was 2 to 3 months. The more technically advanced centrifuges will be removed.
• Iran will cut its uranium stockpiles by 97% for the next 15 years. They will go from having 10,000kg down to 300kg. Since uranium is the key ingredient needed for operating a nuclear program, Iran will now only have enough to generate power rather than create a nuclear bomb. This means Iran is agreeing to increased transparency with the International Atomic Energy Agency and ultimately committing to peace.
• The IAEA will be granted access to all of Iran’s nuclear facilities. This much transparency makes it virtually impossible for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.

In exchange, the 2006 sanctions imposed on Iran by the USA and UN Security Council as punishment for refusing to stop its uranium enrichment program, will be lifted. These sanctions have put an enormous economic burden on the Iranian economy and people. However, if Iran violates any terms of the agreement, sanctions will immediately be put back into place. 

For a more in depth list of terms in the agreement, click here.

While the United States has achieved its goal toward beginning to repair 35 years of animosity with Iran, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized the move, saying, 

“A deal based on this framework would threaten the survival of Israel.”

It's nice to see the Obama administration making deals for peace rather than passing laws for endless war like the one we talk about in the video below. 

What do you guys think about the agreement? Leave us a comment and let us know.