COLUMNS

Iran, Trump and the Art of the Nuclear Deal

Oct 10, 2017 | 20:50 GMT

The reactor building at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran.

The reactor building at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran. Though political narratives come and go, the geopolitical forces that led to the nuclear deal's inception are here to stay, pushing the United States and Iran closer and closer to rapprochement.

(IIPA via Getty Images)

Deep ideological differences and mutual mistrust have marred the relationship between the United States and Iran since the Islamic Republic replaced the nation's monarchy nearly four decades ago. But time has done little to heal the wounds that each country has inflicted on the other. Their enduring enmity will be on full display this week as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to "decertify" the deal Iran has struck with global powers on its nuclear program by arguing that the agreement isn't in the best interest of U.S. national security. Though Washington will likely keep sanctions relief for Tehran in place for now, Trump's speech will trigger a 60-day review period in which Congress will have the power to impose them once again. Despite this apparent setback for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the prospect of the longtime adversaries setting aside their grievances hasn't entirely dimmed. Because while political narratives...

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