The JCPOA and the Iranian Political Economy

By Hooshang Amirahmadi
AIC Founder and President

A major reason Iran wanted a nuclear deal with the P5+1 group of nations was sanctions relief. The Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had allowed the negotiations for this purpose and to reduce tension with the US. He had even established a “red line” for the negotiators regarding sanctions relief: that it must begin “simultaneously” with the signing of the deal – which was ignored in favor of reducing tension.