[JURIST] Negotiations between Iran and six world powers concluded in a nuclear agreement [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), text] on Tuesday. The JCPOA outlines details of the agreement, in which Iran agreed not to create a nuclear bomb in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) [official website] will have permanent access to Iran’s nuclear facilities to monitor activity, and the US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany will continue to meet with Iran leaders at least every two years to review implementation of the agreement. The European Union [official website] sanctions will be lifted either 8 years from the date of adoption or when the IAEA verifies Iran’s nuclear materials are being used for non-aggressive purposes – whichever is sooner. However, all sanctions will be put back in place if Iran violates the terms of the agreement. Iran must remove two-thirds of its centrifuges, ship all spent fuel from the reactor out of the country, and limit uranium research and development to a single facility. President Barack Obama [official profile] stated [official materials] in an address that he plans to veto any legislation from Congress that blocks the implementation of this deal.

This nuclear agreement was reached after the 20-month negotiations continued through several deadlines [JURIST report] in hopes of progress. Over the past several years Iran has been subject to numerous sanctions for its contentious nuclear program. Iranian leaders have repeatedly claimed [JURIST report] that the developing nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but the international community, Israel in particular, worries that Iran’s enrichment program was designed for military purposes. The US and France agreed [JURIST report] in March to strengthen nuclear talks with Iran to persuade the nation to restrain its nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions and in April Iran agreed [JURIST report] to a framework deal to restrict its nuclear plan. A report obtained by the Associated Press in July from the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) [official website] showed [JURIST report] that Iran has been keeping its commitment as part of a preliminary nuclear deal from 2013 barring Iran from expanding nuclear programs during negotiations.