Published in 2021 by Hoghoogh Yar Publishing, Breaching the Deal is a compilation of articles addressing the United States’ exit from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the broader dynamics of Iran’s foreign policy under the Trump administration.
Preface
The JCPOA, primarily negotiated, drafted, and formalized within the realm of international relations rather than international law, marked a pivotal chapter in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The direct and formal negotiations between Iran and the United States at the foreign ministerial level, facilitated by the European Union, the Troika (France, Germany, and the United Kingdom), Russia, and China, dominated international political discourse for nearly two years. These negotiations frequently generated intense media coverage, capturing global attention. Mohammad Javad Zarif, a seasoned technocratic diplomat of the Islamic Republic since its early revolutionary years and a prominent figure among international political elites, gained increasing recognition among the Iranian and global public. Although his negotiating team appeared modest in size compared to its American counterpart, it was bolstered by the support of an entire nation, which significantly enhanced its morale and technical expertise during the talks.
The predominantly political, rather than legally binding, nature of the JCPOA, coupled with its designation as a “Plan of Action” rather than a formal treaty or agreement, was partly a reflection of Iran’s preference for a voluntary framework for all parties. Subsequent developments surrounding the agreement suggest that the JCPOA was not a unilateral arrangement detrimental to Iran—a rarity in Iran’s contemporary history of negotiations. This achievement fostered national pride and confidence.
However, the West, particularly the United States, may have been unaccustomed to such a balanced agreement, rendering it fragile in its aftermath. While the JCPOA’s fate was disrupted by the unprecedented presidency of Donald Trump, which dismantled the minimal progress in Iran-U.S. relations, the United States’ historical conduct over the past four decades aligns closely with Trump’s actions. Examples include the non-implementation of the Algiers Accords, the failure to honor agreements following the release of American diplomats held in Beirut, the confiscation and arbitrary allocation of Iranian assets under questionable pretexts, labeling Iran as part of an “axis of evil” despite its cooperation in the U.S. campaign against al-Qaeda, and ultimately, the breach of the JCPOA. These actions have engendered profound distrust among Iran’s leadership and a significant portion of its populace toward U.S. commitments. This distrust prolonged the JCPOA negotiations, making them among the most protracted in history, and it remains a critical factor that could undermine future agreements, both minor and major.
Trump’s withdrawal from the JCPOA did not merely violate a political agreement with technical details; it also undermined the broader aspirations of Iran’s middle class, which extended beyond alleviating the burdens of nuclear-related sanctions. The normalization of relations with the West and greater economic and scientific integration with the global community—objectives once viewed with optimism—are now met with skepticism, even if past agreements were to be revived.
The negotiation, implementation, and subsequent breach of the JCPOA offer empirical lessons for all parties involved, now etched in the annals of world history and international relations. These events will undoubtedly influence diplomatic engagements for decades to come.
This volume compiles articles, commentaries, and interviews written during the period of the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA and its ensuing complexities. Each piece, originally published in its specific temporal context, can be evaluated within that framework. Collectively, however, these works trace a historical trajectory, offering analytical insights into events as they unfolded. These analyses may prove valuable for scholars and enthusiasts of politics and international relations.
The author hopes that the historical events and analyses presented herein will inform future endeavors, enabling the pursuit of national interests with greater efficacy. Both what transpired and what did not can serve as reflections in the mirror of the mind, guiding future negotiations and strategies.
