Iranian nuclear program: Washington suggests a new peace agreement while the terms of the 2015 agreement remain at the heart of the debates

The United States claims to be on the verge of signing a peace agreement aimed at ending the three-month war with Iran, according to US statements reported Friday, although details of this possible compromise have not yet been made public.

It is not yet clear to what extent this potential agreement would be based on or deviate from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed in 2015 between Iran and several major powers, including the United States, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany. This agreement aimed to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for a gradual easing of international sanctions.

The 2015 agreement stipulated, among other things, that the time required for Iran to produce a nuclear weapon would be extended from a few months to approximately one year through restrictions on its enrichment capabilities. Tehran, however, has always maintained that its nuclear program is exclusively civilian and has no military purpose.

The agreement also provided for a gradual lifting of international sanctions targeting several key sectors of the Iranian economy, including oil, gas, petrochemicals, banking, shipping, and the automotive industry. The restrictions also applied to trade in gold and minerals, as well as certain international financial transactions.

The United States and the European Union had also removed several Iranian entities, including the Central Bank, from their sanctions lists, paving the way for a partial resumption of economic exchanges. Washington had also authorized certain imports, such as Iranian food products and carpets, as well as the sale of commercial aircraft.

This agreement was called into question in 2018, when Donald Trump, then President of the United States, had decided to unilaterally withdraw Washington from the JCPOA and reinstate sanctions against Iran. Tehran had gradually begun to disregard them from 2019 onwards, leading to a continuous deterioration of the diplomatic framework.

According to reports on Friday, the current situation remains uncertain, as the outlines of a potential new agreement have not yet been detailed by the parties involved.