Iran’s stockpile BEFORE THE DEAL

EUROPEAN UNION

The European Union has an extensive list of sanctions against Iran. Among the most damaging are an oil embargo imposed in 2012 and the expulsion of Iranian banks from a global electronic banking system, which all but paralyzed Iran’s ability to do international trade. The E.U. also froze Iranian assets, banned trade of precious metals and the provision of new Iranian banknotes and coins.

UNITED STATEs SANCTIONS

The United States froze $12 billion in Iranian assets after the 1979 hostage crisis, but most assets were unblocked and the embargo was lifted in the early 1980s. In 1987, the U.S banned the import of Iranian goods and services. Among other sanctions added later, Americans also cannot be involved with petroleum development in Iran and virtually all trade and investment by Americans in that country is prohibited. Even some foodstuffs and carpets of Iranian origin are included in the sanctions.

UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS

United Nations sanctions started in 2006, when Iran was blocked from trading nuclear materials and equipment and the financial assets of some people and entities involved with the nuclear program were frozen. In the following years that list of people and entities grew and an arms embargo was imposed. In an action that has contributed to crippling the Iranian economy, financial institutions were practically forbidden from lending money to Iran.

WHAT IRAN HAS ALREADY DONE

About two months, possibly more

The deal adds time to an Iranian nuclear “breakout.”

Iran retains the technology and material to produce fuel for a weapon for now.

WHAT CHANGES

ASSESSING THE SANCTIONS

Iran will receive some financial relief, but most sanctions will remain.

Must not have more after six months

Can keep, but not add centrifuges

Must be diluted or converted

=

+

20%

90%

Centrifuges

Iran has also been enriching uranium to 20 percent. This raises concern because a stockpile of 20 percent uranium makes the process of accumulating fuel for a weapon much faster.

If Iran were to make a weapon, it would need to continue enriching to 90 percent or higher. Iran has the technology to do this, but has not yet done so.

Iran enriches uranium to 3.5 percent, usable for nuclear power. It could be further enriched, however, for potential weapon use.

During the enrichment process, uranium is placed in thousands of centrifuges that gradually work to increase the percentage of uranium 235.

0.7%

Only 0.7 percent of natural uranium ore is uranium 235, the isotope needed for weapons and nuclear plants. To work as fuel, most uranium needs enrichment.

3.5%

90% URANIUM

CENTRIFUGES

3.5% to 5% URANIUM

11,000 usable

7,154 kg

Iran can keep its centrifuges, but new centrifuges cannot be installed. The centrifuges already in place but not currently operating cannot be started up. The country has to stop enriching uranium beyond 5 percent and has to dilute or convert into oxide its 20 percent stockpile.

Before the deal, Iran had enough uranium enriched at lower levels and centrifuges to produce fuel for a weapon — a nuclear breakout — in between one and two months, according to a study by the Institute for Science and International Security, a Washington-based group that has been skeptical of Iran’s peaceful claims. The deal adds time to the process. The time ranges from several weeks to almost a month, according to I.S.I.S.

Experts estimate that the deal, along with daily checks of the cameras installed at Iran’s facilities, could add weeks to an Iranian breakout.