Why Iran is partially withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal
Tehran to announce ‘reciprocal measures’ as tensions mount with the US

Iran will partially withdraw from the nuclear deal signed with world powers, its leaders have announced.
A year after Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 agreement, Tehran will formally convey its “reciprocal measures” to ambassadors to countries remaining inside the deal: France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia.
The Guardian says the move “is bound to be seized upon by Washington as proof that the nuclear deal – which the US violated in May 2018 – has collapsed and is no longer worth pursuing”. CNN speculates that the withdrawal could see Tehran “exceed the limits on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium, the size of which determines how close they are to a weapon”.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The move comes after Iran's economy was “hit by reinstated US sanctions on its oil and financial sectors”, the BBC says, which have pushed the value of its currency to “record lows, quadrupled its annual inflation rate and driven away foreign investment”.
After EU officials were privately informed of the partial withdrawal plan yesterday, a source close to the French government urged Iran to reconsider. “We do not want Tehran to announce tomorrow actions that would violate the nuclear agreement, because in this case we Europeans would be obliged to re-impose sanctions as per the terms of the agreement,” the source said.
The news comes amid a broader build-up in tensions between Washington and Tehran. A US aircraft carrier has been deployed to the region, which US officials said was in response to threats from Iran to it forces and allies. It was also revealed the US was sending B-52 bombers to the region.
US national security adviser John Bolton said the twin moves were “in response to a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings”. The acting Pentagon spokesman Charles Summers added that the US does “not seek war with the Iranian regime,” but will “defend US personnel, our allies and our interests in the region”.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Iran denies making any threats and says Washington’s aircraft carrier move is part of a routine. Foreign minister Javad Zarif said: “From announcements of naval movements (that actually occurred last month) to dire warnings about so-called ‘Iranian threats’. If US and clients don't feel safe, it's because they're despised by the people of the region - blaming Iran won't reverse that.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a brief, unscheduled visit to Iraq yesterday. After cancelling a trip to Berlin he met with Iraqi leaders during a four-hour stop in the capital Baghdad.
Linking the meeting to tensions with Iran, Pompeo said that he wanted to “speak with the leadership there [in Iraq], to assure them that we stood ready to continue to ensure that Iraq is a sovereign, independent nation”.
-
Questions abound over the FAA’s management of Boeing
Talking Points Some have called the agency’s actions underwhelming
-
Lou Berney’s 6 favorite books with powerful storytelling
Feature The award-winning author recommends works by Dorothy B. Hughes, James McBride, and more
-
Robert Redford: the Hollywood icon who founded the Sundance Film Festival
Feature Redford’s most lasting influence may have been as the man who ‘invigorated American independent cinema’ through Sundance
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
'Axis of upheaval': will China summit cement new world order?
Today's Big Question Xi calls on anti-US alliance to cooperate in new China-led global system – but fault lines remain
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
Iran still has enriched uranium, Israeli official says
Speed Read It remains unclear how long it would take Iran to rebuild its nuclear program following US and Israeli attacks
-
IAEA: Iran could enrich uranium 'within months'
Speed Read The chief United Nations nuclear inspector, Rafael Grossi, says Iran could be enriching uranium again soon
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024