Rouhani, the Nuclear Deal, and New Horizons for Iran–US Relations

Authors: Luciano Zaccara and Mehran Haghirian

Foreign Policy of Iran Under President Hassan Rouhani's First Term (2013–2017).

Zaccara, Luciano (Ed.)

Palgrave Macmillan, 2020

Abstract

Rouhani’s election in 2013 was a pivotal point in the history of the Islamic Republic and allowed Iran to present a new image on the global stage, one significantly different from the preceding eight years. This chapter assesses the Rouhani Administration’s foreign policy approach by analysing the nuclear negotiations and the impact of the deal on Iran’s global engagement efforts. In addition, this chapter assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the nuclear deal by analysing its impact on the foreign and economic policies of Iran. The chapter concludes that the nuclear deal did not have a practical impact on the prospects of restoring official diplomatic relations with Washington, nor was it sustainably effective in revitalizing Iran’s economy. Thus, the continuation of US primary sanctions inhibited a reform in Iran’s strategic decision-making calculus towards the United States in particular, and foreign policy in general.

Full Article: https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9789811539237