OnPolitics: US, Iran close restoring an agreement to (sort of) replace nuclear deal

Hey there, OnPolitics readers. The U.S. and Iran may be close to an agreement to replace the nuclear deal ex-President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from five years ago. But just don't call it a deal.

What to know: The Biden administration has long promised to restore the 2015 Iran nuclear deal — formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA — which put significant restrictions on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in relief from economic sanctions after Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018.

What's the big deal?: The goal of the deal was to reduce the chances of a war breaking out between a nuclear-armed Iran and its regional rivals: Saudi Arabia and close U.S. ally, Israel. However, since then, Saudi Arabia and Iran have restored diplomatic ties.

So, where's the agreement?: While Biden promised to quickly rejoin the deal, it hasn't happened. In fact, the U.S. government has denied that a new deal is being negotiated with Iran, but two Iranian officials and one Israeli official told Paste BN the U.S. and Iran are close to reaching an informal agreement aimed at improving U.S.-Iran relations and de-escalating simmering regional tensions.

What would an agreement include? Our subscriber story has the details on what we know.

Keep reading this subscriber exclusive: U.S.-Iran pact: Trump destroyed it. Biden wants to restore it. Just don't call it a deal

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