In the shadowy chessboard of global power, a silent countdown has begun. One secret strike. One broken deal. One last chance at diplomacy slipping through the cracks. The world’s most volatile region stands inches from chaos, and at the heart of it all lies a forgotten agreement, the JCPOA. Once celebrated as a triumph of peace, now buried under sanctions, sabotage, and secrets. But something has shifted. Talks are stalling. Missiles are flying. And October 2025 could change everything.
What is the Iran Nuclear Deal?
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed in 2015 by Iran and the P5+1, was a landmark agreement designed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. It imposed strict restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program, limiting uranium enrichment to 3.67%, reducing centrifuges by two-thirds, and cutting its uranium stockpile by 98%. The IAEA was granted sweeping access to verify compliance.
In exchange, Iran was granted relief from crippling international sanctions, giving it access to billions of dollars in frozen assets and re-entry into global financial and energy markets. The deal was codified under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and hailed as a triumph of multilateral diplomacy. As of now, JCPOA & UNSC res. 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA, both are set to expire in Oct 2025.
What Went Wrong?
The JCPOA began to unravel in 2018 when the United States, under President Donald Trump, unilaterally withdrew from the agreement. This withdrawal reintroduced sanctions on Iran and marked a sharp departure from the consensus that had underpinned the deal. Iran responded by breaching enrichment limits and curbing IAEA access. By 2025, its breakout time to develop bomb-grade material has shrunk to mere weeks.
Recent backchannel talks between Iran and the U.S. brokered by Oman were derailed in June when Israeli airstrikes targeted IAEA-monitored nuclear facilities inside Iran. These attacks halted verification work and triggered fears of wider conflict.
Pakistan’s UN Warning: Reclaim Diplomacy Before It’s Too Late
At the UN Security Council on June 24, Pakistan’s Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad stressed that despite the crisis, the JCPOA remains a blueprint for peaceful resolution. He condemned the attacks on safeguarded sites, calling them a violation of international law, UN resolutions, and IAEA safeguards.
Calling for restraint, Ahmad urged the Council to support a ceasefire and enable the IAEA to resume its verification role. He announced Pakistan, China, and Russia had submitted a revised resolution reaffirming diplomacy and non-aggression.
“The cost of resolving disputes through force is now obvious,” Ahmad said. “Diplomacy has delivered before, and it can again.”
Ahmad stressed that for a country like Pakistan, geographically and economically tied to Gulf stability, the stakes are especially high. He warned that the region is “one miscalculation away” from a potentially catastrophic war.
The Clock Is Ticking: Can the JCPOA Still Be Useful?
With key JCPOA provisions expiring in October 2025, time is running out. Without a renewed agreement or an alternative, global non-proliferation norms risk collapsing. The IAEA’s access remains blocked, and the region is one miscalculation away from conflict.
Pakistan, deeply impacted by Gulf instability, sees the deal’s restoration as essential for regional security. Ahmad called for the UN and IAEA to assess the damage caused by military strikes and facilitate renewed engagement.
Why Is It Back in the Spotlight?
The JCPOA worked until it was dismantled. It reduced Iran’s nuclear risk and opened space for diplomacy. Its survival now hinges on restoring trust and avoiding further escalation. Whether the international community reclaims the diplomatic path or watches the agreement collapse under pressure will define the future of nuclear diplomacy.
What is the JCPOA, and why is it back in the Spotlight
In the shadowy chessboard of global power, a silent countdown has begun. One secret strike. One broken deal. One last chance at diplomacy slipping through the cracks. The world’s most volatile region stands inches from chaos, and at the heart of it all lies a forgotten agreement, the JCPOA. Once celebrated as a triumph of peace, now buried under sanctions, sabotage, and secrets. But something has shifted. Talks are stalling. Missiles are flying. And October 2025 could change everything.
What is the Iran Nuclear Deal?
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed in 2015 by Iran and the P5+1, was a landmark agreement designed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. It imposed strict restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program, limiting uranium enrichment to 3.67%, reducing centrifuges by two-thirds, and cutting its uranium stockpile by 98%. The IAEA was granted sweeping access to verify compliance.
In exchange, Iran was granted relief from crippling international sanctions, giving it access to billions of dollars in frozen assets and re-entry into global financial and energy markets. The deal was codified under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and hailed as a triumph of multilateral diplomacy. As of now, JCPOA & UNSC res. 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA, both are set to expire in Oct 2025.
What Went Wrong?
The JCPOA began to unravel in 2018 when the United States, under President Donald Trump, unilaterally withdrew from the agreement. This withdrawal reintroduced sanctions on Iran and marked a sharp departure from the consensus that had underpinned the deal. Iran responded by breaching enrichment limits and curbing IAEA access. By 2025, its breakout time to develop bomb-grade material has shrunk to mere weeks.
Recent backchannel talks between Iran and the U.S. brokered by Oman were derailed in June when Israeli airstrikes targeted IAEA-monitored nuclear facilities inside Iran. These attacks halted verification work and triggered fears of wider conflict.
Pakistan’s UN Warning: Reclaim Diplomacy Before It’s Too Late
At the UN Security Council on June 24, Pakistan’s Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad stressed that despite the crisis, the JCPOA remains a blueprint for peaceful resolution. He condemned the attacks on safeguarded sites, calling them a violation of international law, UN resolutions, and IAEA safeguards.
Calling for restraint, Ahmad urged the Council to support a ceasefire and enable the IAEA to resume its verification role. He announced Pakistan, China, and Russia had submitted a revised resolution reaffirming diplomacy and non-aggression.
“The cost of resolving disputes through force is now obvious,” Ahmad said. “Diplomacy has delivered before, and it can again.”
Ahmad stressed that for a country like Pakistan, geographically and economically tied to Gulf stability, the stakes are especially high. He warned that the region is “one miscalculation away” from a potentially catastrophic war.
The Clock Is Ticking: Can the JCPOA Still Be Useful?
With key JCPOA provisions expiring in October 2025, time is running out. Without a renewed agreement or an alternative, global non-proliferation norms risk collapsing. The IAEA’s access remains blocked, and the region is one miscalculation away from conflict.
Pakistan, deeply impacted by Gulf instability, sees the deal’s restoration as essential for regional security. Ahmad called for the UN and IAEA to assess the damage caused by military strikes and facilitate renewed engagement.
Why Is It Back in the Spotlight?
The JCPOA worked until it was dismantled. It reduced Iran’s nuclear risk and opened space for diplomacy. Its survival now hinges on restoring trust and avoiding further escalation. Whether the international community reclaims the diplomatic path or watches the agreement collapse under pressure will define the future of nuclear diplomacy.
SAT Commentary
SAT Commentary
SAT Commentaries, a collection of insightful social media threads on current events and social issues, featuring diverse perspectives from various authors.
Recent
The Nobel Peace Prize or War Prize? A History of Controversial Laureates
Far from being an impartial recognition of pacifism, the Nobel Peace Prize’s legacy is marred by controversial laureates whose actions have been linked to immense violence. The prize is not a universal arbiter of peace but a political instrument reflecting a Western-centric worldview, rewarding figures who align with its geopolitical interests, regardless of the blood on their hands.
Eighty Years Later: Is the United Nations Becoming the League of Nations 2.0?
Eighty years after the UN’s creation to “save succeeding generations from war,” the organization stands at a breaking point. With veto paralysis, waning U.S. commitment, and global disillusionment, is the UN becoming the very institution it replaced—the League of Nations 2.0?
Geopolitics, Journalism, and the Anatomy of a False Narrative
A recent Financial Times story claimed Pakistan was pitching a new Arabian Sea port to the US Built on anonymous sources and logical flaws, the report was quietly corrected. This article dissects how the flimsy reporting was weaponized by domestic and regional actors to push a false narrative, revealing more about their political agendas than Pakistan’s foreign policy.
The Promises and Perils of the New Gaza Plan
A new Gaza peace plan by Donald Trump has international backing and a surprising partial acceptance from Hamas. However, its journey toward lasting peace is threatened by critical deal-breakers and the unresolved core question of Palestinian political sovereignty.
Pakistan’s Path to Innovation through CERN Partnership
Pakistan’s growing partnership with CERN highlights its rising role in global science and technology. As the first South Asian state to become an associate member, Pakistan is advancing research, training young scientists, and opening doors for high-tech industry and innovation through its collaboration with the world’s leading particle physics center.