On 24 November 2013, China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, supported by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (‘High Representative’), reached an agreement with Iran on a Joint Plan of Action which sets out an approach towards reaching a long-term comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. It was agreed that the process leading to this comprehensive solution would include, as a first step, initial mutually-agreed measures to be taken by both sides for a duration of six months and renewable by mutual consent.

On 2 April 2015, China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, supported by the High Representative, agreed the key parameters of a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran.

On 14 July 2015, China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, supported by the High Representative, reached an agreement with Iran on a long-term comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. The successful implementation of the JCPOA will ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme, and provide for the comprehensive lifting of all nuclear-related sanctions.

On 20 July 2015, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution (UNSCR) 2231 (2015) endorsing the JCPOA, urging its full implementation on the timetable established in the JCPOA and providing for actions to take place in accordance with the JCPOA.

UNSCR 2231 (2015) provides that the measures imposed in resolutions 1696 (2006), 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008) and 1929 (2010) shall not apply, under certain conditions, to activities by JCPOA participant States or UN Member States acting in coordination with them directly related to the modification of two cascades at the Fordow facility for stable isotope production, the export of Iran's enriched uranium in excess of 300 kilograms in return for natural uranium, or the modernisation of the Arak reactor based on the agreed conceptual design and, subsequently, on the agreed final design of such reactor.

UNSCR 2231 (2015) further provides that the measures imposed in UNSCRs 1696 (2006), 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008) and 1929 (2010) shall not apply to the extent necessary to carry out, under certain conditions, transfers and activities that are related to implementation of certain nuclear-related commitments specified in the JCPOA, required for preparation for the implementation of the JCPOA, or determined by the UN Security Council Committee established pursuant to UNSCR 1737 (2006) to be consistent with the objectives of UNSCR 2231 (2015).

Further action by the Union is needed in order to implement certain measures provided for in this Decision.

Decision 2010/413/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly,