Background

• The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), more commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, was reached between Iran and six world powers known as the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) in July 2015.

What did Iran have to do to meet the requirements of the deal?

• According to this framework, Iran would redesign, convert, and reduce its nuclear facilities in order to lift all nuclear-related economic sanctions.
• The deal also allowed for the tracking of nuclear activities with robust transparency and inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

U.S. withdrawal from JCPOA

• The US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, claiming it did not address Iran’s ballistic missile programme or its roles in Middle Eastern conflicts. 
• The US also re-imposed tough economic sanctions against Iran.
• Reacting to the US’ withdrawal, Iran announced that it will breach its limits set on its nuclear activity by the 2015 deal.

Why in News?

• U.S. President-elect Joe Biden said he will insist Iran agrees to new demands if it wants the U.S. to return to a nuclear deal and lift sanctions.
• The Biden administration would seek to extend the duration of restrictions on Iran’s production of fissile material that could be used to make a nuclear bomb in a new round of negotiations.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/biden-sets-new-demands-for-iran-nuclear-deal-return-nyt/article33233828.ece