The Obama administration's Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), significantly restricted Iran's nuclear program to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons. In exchange for these limitations and stringent international monitoring, Iran received relief from international sanctions.
The JCPOA was negotiated by Iran and the P5+1 group (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, plus Germany) and endorsed by the UN Security Council in 2015. Its primary objective was to extend Iran's nuclear "breakout time"—the period needed to produce enough fissile material for a single nuclear weapon—from a few months to at least one year. This sought to address international concerns regarding Iran's growing uranium enrichment capabilities and its potential pathway to nuclear weapons.
The deal mandated several key actions by Iran designed to curb its nuclear ambitions: