Pact gave access to $100bn frozen assets

THE 2015 nuclear deal was signed by Iran, the US, Britain, Russia, France, China and Germany.

The agreement lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for limitations to it’s nuclear energy programme, which many feared would be used to create a nuclear weapon.

Under the deal, Iran agreed to slash enrichment levels of uranium to prevent it reaching ‘weapons grade’ and redesign a heavy-water nuclear facility it had been building so it would no longer be capable of producing plutonium suitable for a nuclear bomb.

Tehran also agreed not to engage in activities, including research and development, that it would need to develop a weapon.

The International Atomic Energy Agency was granted greater access and information to monitor Iran’s nuclear programme. It also had powers to investigate suspicious sites.

In return, the lifting of sanctions meant Iran gained access to more than $100billion in assets frozen overseas. It was also able to resume selling oil on international markets and use the global financial system for trade.

Violation of the deal would lead to UN sanctions being put into place for 10 years.