Deal or no deal?

• The U.S. and Iran should find common ground on the nuclear deal.

Reviving the Nuclear deal

• There is no breakthrough in one of the most contentious issues in West Asia.
• Talks collapsed as US administration refused to remove terrorist designation of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
• Both sides are still keen on a solution, but they face structural impediments.

What went wrong?

• The Obama administration and Rouhani presidency had engaged in negotiations to reach a 2015 agreement.
• It would cut off Iran’s path towards building nuclear capabilities.
• Iran was fully compliant with the agreement’s terms when President Trump unilaterally pulled the U.S. out of the agreement.
• He hoped under economic pressure Iran would renegotiate the agreement.
• Instead, Iran began enriching large amounts of uranium to a higher purity

Current scenario

• The US administration sees negotiated agreement as the best way to limit Iran’s nuclear programme.
• But the U.S. is facing pressure from America’s allies in West Asia, especially Israel.
• Demand: Iran’s weapons programme in fresh agreement.
• Iran is resisting any attempt to expand the scope of the agreement.
• As negotiations go on, Israel has increased its shadow war with Islamic Republic.

Conclusion

• World currently reeling under the after-effects of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, can’t afford another open conflict.
• The U.S. and Iran should start direct negotiations to overcome differences and find common ground on the deal.