International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said any future nuclear agreement with Iran will look very different from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [1].
This shift in diplomatic strategy comes as the IAEA monitors Iran's growing nuclear capabilities. Grossi said that the technical advancements made by Tehran and recent regional conflicts have rendered the previous framework obsolete, meaning a return to the old deal is no longer a viable option.
Grossi said that the 2015 nuclear deal is no longer a workable model [1]. He reiterated this position during a June 28, 2025, interview with CBS News, where he said, "We need a new framework that is fundamentally different from the 2015 deal" [3].
The IAEA chief said that any new arrangement must reflect current realities. He said that any future agreement with Iran will have to reflect today’s realities and will look very different from the JCPOA [2]. This necessity stems from the fact that Iran's nuclear technology has progressed significantly since the original deal was signed.
Monitoring the physical location of nuclear materials remains a priority for the agency. The majority of Iran's highly enriched uranium is still believed to be at the Isfahan nuclear complex [4].
Grossi's remarks across various interviews, including appearances with Al Jazeera English and statements in Washington and New York, highlight a growing consensus that the 2015 parameters cannot contain the current scale of Iran's program [1, 2, 3]. The agency continues to track the advancement of these capabilities to prevent further escalation.
“"The 2015 nuclear deal is no longer a workable model."”
The IAEA's public pivot away from the JCPOA signals that the technical 'breakout time'—the time required for Iran to produce enough fissile material for a weapon—has likely shrunk to a point where the 2015 restrictions are mathematically and practically insufficient. By stating the old deal is not a workable model, Grossi is preparing the international community for a more stringent and comprehensive set of requirements in future negotiations.
