Iran Nuclear Talks

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

• In 2015, Iran agreed on a long-term deal on its nuclear programme with a group of world powers known as the P5+1 (the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany).
• The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action aims to guarantee the civilian nature of Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for a gradual lifting of sanctions.
  • Under it, Iran agreed to significantly cut its stores of key components for nuclear weapons like centrifuges, enriched uranium and heavy water.
  • Iran would only have enough enriched uranium to maintain its energy needs, without having the ability to build a nuclear bomb.
  • It also agreed to dismantle much of its nuclear programme and open its facilities to more extensive international inspections in exchange for billions of dollars worth of sanctions relief.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) played an important role in enforcing the deal, keeping a check on Iran and inspections.

International Atomic Energy Agency

• Popularly known as the world’s “Atoms for Peace and Development” organisation, the IAEA is the international centre for cooperation in the nuclear field.
• It was established on 29th July 1957 as an autonomous organisation, at the height of the Cold War (1945-1991) between the US and the Soviet Union.
  • Post World War II (1945), the world got divided into two power blocs dominated by two superpowers, the Soviet Union and the US.
  • The two superpowers were primarily engaged in an ideological war between the capitalistic ideals of the West versus the communist ideals of the East.
  • It came to an end after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991.
• Though established independently of the UN through its own international treaty, the agency reports to both the UN General Assembly and the Security Council.
• It works with the member states and multiple partners worldwide to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.

Uranium as a Fuel

• Nuclear fuel is mined from naturally occurring uranium ore deposits and then isolated through chemical reactions and separation processes.
• Natural uranium consists of two different isotopes: 
  • Nearly 99% U-238 and 
  • Only around 0.72% of U-235.
    • U-238 is not fissile, thus the concentration of U-235 must be increased before it can be effectively used as a nuclear fuel.
    • U-235 being a fissile material sustains a chain reaction in a nuclear reactor.
• Uranium enrichment:
  • It is a process that creates an effective nuclear fuel out of mined uranium by increasing the percentage of uranium-235.
  • Enrichment process basically increases the proportion of U-235 through the process of isotope separation (U-238 is separated from U-235).
• For nuclear Weapons:
  • Highly Enriched Uranium or weapons-grade uranium
  • For which enrichment is required up to 90% or more.
• For Nuclear Reactor:
  • Low Enriched Uranium or reactor-grade uranium
  • Enrichment is required upto 3-4% only.