Iran: What Next?

The nuclear agreement with Iran is off to a good start. The US and Iranian parliaments approved the plan (as have the other signatory powers whose approval seemed never in doubt). Iran is moving

quickly on its obligations. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on October 16th that Iran has complied with its deadline for submitting information on the history of its nuclear program as the agreement required. Earlier, in September, the IAEA endorsed samples collected from an Iranian nuclear facility, confirming that video surveillance of the collection process and a subsequent facility tour showed no violations of its standards.

The vista of the agreement bringing lifted sanctions in the not too distant future has excited Iranians eager for more involvement with the rest of the world, including importantly those advocating more democracy. Other major economies, sadly with the exception so far of the US, are excited as well – eagerly sending delegations to Tehran to explore the trade and investment opportunities which will be opened up by sanctions relief. My expectation is that it will not be long before US corporations are pressing Congress to end the additional US trade restrictions which currently are preventing them from joining in. See US Should Forge Economic Ties with Iran for a good analysis of this in The Hill.

However, the successful conclusion of the Iran nuclear agreement has the potential to benefit the US in multiple ways beyond the economy. For decades US foreign policy in the Middle East has been shaped by hostility to Iran and an alliance with Saudi Arabia, no matter what terrible things the Saudis have undertaken. The horrendous human toll of the current Saudi air campaign in Yemen is one example. Funding of extremist Sunni opposition groups in Syria by the Riyadh government and by many Saudis privately is another example.

Read more: http://blog.timesunion.com/wagingpeace/iran-what-next/7690/