Can the Iran Deal Survive?

The Iran deal is working as advertised by containing Iran ’s nuclear weapons program. That non-proliferation success creates a greater one: it vastly lowers the odds of a U.S. attack on Iran and pacifies relations. That’s what makes the deal anathema to those on both sides who would preserve enmity to gain in domestic political fights.The deal ’s fate may be sealed in the coming weeks. A presidential election Friday in Iranwill either re-elect Hassan Rouhani, who pushed for the deal and now defends it, or replace him with ahardliner. The Trump administration recentlylaunched a review of Iran policy and the deal, which could yield a decision to try toundermine the agreement or to truly stay in it.Under the 2015deal, officially the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in various ways and allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspections in exchange for relief from some of the sanctions that the United States, the European Union, and the UN Security Council had imposed and the release of frozen funds. The deal leaves in placesanctions on Iran for human rights violations, ballistic missile development, and support for terrorist organizations. The Obama administration alsodropped charges against a number of Iranian sanctions violators in exchange for Iran ’s release of four American prisoners.Last fall ’s elections put the deal in peril. They matched a Republican Senate majority that hadopenly tried to undermine the deal ’s ne...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs