The Importance of the Iran Nuclear Deal
Start writing a post
Politics

The Importance of the Iran Nuclear Deal

The Most Important Piece of Foreign Policy of the Obama Administration

213
The Importance of the Iran Nuclear Deal
Aaron Kittredge

Since the 1979 seizure of the US embassy in Iran diplomatic relations between the two states have steadily deteriorated. The United States galvanized the international community to impose stricter sanctions impacting every aspect of Iranian government and culture. In a stunning display of successful soft power in action after nearly 40 years of intense sanctions, the Iranian leadership reached out through diplomatic channels once thought to be permanently severed in order to negotiate a compromise. The Iranian nuclear deal is one of the most successful foreign policy initiatives in recent history. Establishing the precedent that nations can negotiate with the United States and that soft power resolutions are preferable to open conflict may very well be the greatest accomplishment of the Obama presidency. Unfortunately, if the Republican party succeeds in repealing US support of the deal, which Donald Trump has declared he will do on day one of his presidency, it will unravel years of US foreign policy and soft power, not to mention embarrass the United States as the only member of the UN security council to go against the proposition.

In essence, the Iran nuclear deal is one of the most shameful incursions of state sovereignty since the USSR seized Eastern Europe. Iran has been developing nuclear technology since the Shah dynasty, one of the few initiatives the Pahlavi family was not successfully coerced by the United States into abandoning which is surprising for a figurehead. In the roughly twenty years of developing nuclear technology, the Iranian government has not been successful in developing a nuclear weapon. At the time of the deal, the Iranian breakout time was astonishingly low, breakout time being the amount necessary to produce a nuclear weapon, of approximately months. The Iranian government underwent drastic changes under the changing perspectives of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran, and the moderate tone he has allowed in government. The introduction of a moderate president and clergy willing to accept the measures outlined in the deal took the international community by surprise.

In exchange for rolling back some of the sanctions against their economy, Iran has agreed to gut almost the entire nuclear program, reducing their breakout time to a year or more. In addition, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) gains constant access to any nuclear facility, potential facility and anything they deem as potentially suspicious. Iran is granted 24 days to comply with requests by the IAEA otherwise the sanctions return. The IAEA holds the stability of the Iranian economy in its hands, which is especially tenuous under the strain of falling oil prices and the oversaturated global market. Iran literally handed its state sovereignty over to a non-governmental organization (NGO) affiliated with the UN for the next 15 years. In order to stabilize its economy and move forward in the international community, Iran sought a diplomatic resolution that the United States helped shape and the international community accepted. If for any reason the United states violates the Iran nuclear deal, there will be no moving forward in the Middle East. The United States credibility, which is already extremely tarnished, will have been destroyed. It is already difficult for the United States to protect its interests in the Middle East after invading several times and being unable to prevent Israel from committing atrocities against its minority Arab population. The Iran Nuclear Deal is vital to US interests in the Middle East, even if it is flawed.

The BBC wrote an article detailing the general impact of the deal.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33521655

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

91781
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

69532
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments