The comprehensive Plan of Action is one of the significant issues in international politics from the moment it was signed in 2015. It was reached between Iran and several other countries, including the US, and, in turn, placed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions on Iran.
In 2018, the United States decided to quit the deal under the presidency of Donald Trump, which considerably destabilized the situation. The big question now is: Has the US re-entered the Iran deal? Peterson has explained this question as relevant in the prognosis of the further development of international relations, the problems of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and the situation in the Middle East.
In this article, I will discuss several questions: Whether the US has come back to the deal, what it means, and what it might mean for geopolitics going forward.
What is the Iran Deal?
Before I proceed to explain the importance of whether the US has rejoined the Iran deal or not, one needs to know what the Iran deal is all about. The JCPOA was signed in July 2015 between Iran and the world’s six leading powers, namely the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and China. They were negotiating to curb the Iranian nuclear program so that Iran does not construct nuclear weapons and, in return, provides access to the international market. The main provisions of the pact were Iran’s limits on uranium enrichment, the redesign of a reactor, and Iran’s halving of its enriched uranium stockpile.
The deal was meant to bar Iran from getting nuclear weapons on the one hand and, on the other, allow Iran to continue with nuclear power production for civilian use. It was applauded as a diplomatic success, but it also received negative responses from different countries, mainly those that perceived Iran as not compliant with the provisions of the agreement.
Why Did the US Leave the Iran Deal?
In May 2018, Trump served America’s fresh notification of withdrawal from this deal, making a drastic turning point for the Iran deal. Trump described the deal as not perfect because it failed to put constraints on Iran’s missile program or its interference in other countries’ affairs. He also disparaged the “sunset clauses,” which are some of the limitations placed on Tehran’s nuclear program that would be lifted after a decade and a half.
Due to the withdrawal, strict economic sanctions on Iran were reinforced, which significantly affected its economy. The move also increased aggression between the US and Iran, resulting in military conflicts and heightened tensions in the region.
The US Approach Under Biden
US President Joe Biden had one of the major objectives regarding international relations when he took office in 2021: to reintegrate the US into the Iran nuclear deal. Biden supported the JCPOA and opposed the use of war as a means of leaving Iran without nuclear weapons.
Talks to resuscitate the deal began after Biden’s inauguration. Negotiations were conducted between the US, Iran, and the three other countries still in the deal. However, such discussions encountered numerous difficulties and challenges. Both the US and Iran entered the talks with different preconditions, and the discussions were further marred by controversies, such as the matter of Iran’s missiles, its regional operations, and the question of whether the US sanctions on Iran would be lifted.
As of 2024, the US has not formally returned to the Iran deal. Despite this, several interactions and a willingness on the part of both parties to come back to the agreement have occurred. However, numerous hurdles remain that prevent re-entry.
For instance, while the current US administration is generally in favor of the deal, it is not ready to make compromises without reciprocal actions from Iran. This includes Iran’s commitment to enhanced oversight of its nuclear plans and full implementation of the JCPOA provisions. The US has also called on Iran to cease its activities in the region, such as supporting rebel groups in the Middle East.
Iran, on the other hand, has demanded that the US first remove the sanctions imposed after the 2018 withdrawal. Tehran also seeks assurances that there will be no future pullout, as was done under the Trump administration. This complex dynamic reflects an intricate balancing of power politics, where both sides avoid escalating conflicts while pursuing their own objectives.
The Role of European Allies
The European countries that initially participated in the negotiation process, including the UK, France, and Germany, have vociferously supported the deal. These nations have been trying to act as intermediaries between the
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