Iran says not certain by ‘restrictions’ on its nuclear programme

Iran stated on Saturday (October 18, 2025) that it was not certain by restrictions on its nuclear programme as a landmark 10-year deal between it and world powers expired, although Tehran reiterated its “dedication to diplomacy”.

The 2015 deal — signed in Vienna by Iran, China, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the United States — noticed the lifting of worldwide sanctions towards the Islamic Republic in change for restrictions on its nuclear programme. But the pact had already been in tatters after Washington unilaterally withdrew throughout President Donald Trump’s first time period, with Iran later pulling again from its commitments.

The reimposition of U.N. sanctions in September on the urging of three of the deal’s European signatories rendered the accord successfully moot. From now on, “the entire provisions [of the deal], together with the restrictions on the Iranian nuclear programme and the associated mechanisms are thought of terminated”, Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated in an announcement on the day of the pact’s expiration. “Iran firmly expresses its dedication to diplomacy,” it added.

Western powers have lengthy accused Iran of secretly looking for nuclear weapons — one thing it has repeatedly denied, insisting its nuclear programme is solely for civilian functions reminiscent of power manufacturing.

The deal’s “termination day” was set for October 18, 2025, precisely 10 years after it was enshrined within the U.N.’s Security Council Resolution 2231.

The accord capped Iran’s uranium enrichment at 3.67% in change for sanctions aid and supplied for strict supervision of its nuclear actions by the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). But Washington left the deal in 2018 and reinstated sanctions, after which Tehran started stepping up its nuclear programme.

According to the IAEA, Iran is the one nation with out a nuclear weapons programme to complement uranium to 60%. That is near the brink of 90% required for a bomb, and effectively above the extent wanted for civilian nuclear use.

Irresponsible actions

In July, Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA following the warfare with Israel, with Tehran pointing to the company’s failure to sentence Israeli and U.S. strikes on its nuclear services.

The unprecedented bombing marketing campaign by Israel and the retaliation by Iran throughout the 12-day warfare derailed ongoing nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington. At the initiative of France, Britain and Germany, widespread U.N. sanctions towards Iran returned into drive in late September for the primary time in a decade.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in a letter addressed to the United Nations on Saturday (October 18, 2025) that the expiration of the 2015 deal renders the sanctions “null and void”.

Britain, France and Germany accuse Iran of not cooperating with the IAEA and would love it to return to negotiations with the United States.

“Iran’s efforts to revive the exchanges [with the IAEA] that led to the settlement in Cairo have been additionally sabotaged by the irresponsible actions of the three European nations,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated in Saturday’s (October 18) assertion, referring to a latest framework to renew cooperation.