The 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, continues to shape U.S.
policy under Donald Trump because it established the core trade-off between limiting Iran’s nuclear program and easing sanctions. After Barack Obama negotiated the deal, Trump withdrew in 2018, leading Iran to expand its nuclear activities. This created a more complex and risky situation. The agreement also raised trust issues, as Iran questions whether future deals will last. Today, any new negotiations must confront the same challenges and expectations originally defined by the JCPOA.
