The Shadow of the Nuclear Deal
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was a landmark diplomatic achievement. It placed significant, verifiable limits on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for lifting crippling economic sanctions. For its supporters, it was proof that diplomacy
could prevent a nuclear-armed Iran and a wider war. However, the deal was criticized for its narrow focus. The United States' unilateral withdrawal in 2018 and the subsequent reimposition of sanctions led Iran to resume and accelerate its nuclear activities, leaving the agreement in tatters and highlighting its fragility. The recent conflicts in 2025 and 2026, including direct military action, have further complicated any return to the old framework, showing that a nuclear understanding alone does not guarantee peace.
Iran's Regional Power Play
A major point of contention for the United States and its allies, particularly Israel and Saudi Arabia, is Iran's influence across the Middle East. Through its 'Axis of Resistance,' Iran provides financial, military, and political support to a network of powerful proxy groups. This includes Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi rebels in Yemen, and various militias in Syria and Iraq. Washington views this network as a primary driver of regional instability, used to threaten allies and project Iranian power. Tehran, however, sees these alliances as a crucial part of its defensive strategy against hostile powers. Any long-term agreement would have to address this fundamental clash of interests, a challenge the original JCPOA sidestepped entirely.
The Ballistic Missile Question
Left out of the JCPOA, Iran's ballistic missile program remains a significant and unresolved issue. Iran considers its missiles, which can reach US military bases and allies throughout the region, as a vital deterrent and a non-negotiable aspect of its national defense. From the perspective of the US and its partners, this arsenal poses a direct threat, regardless of whether the missiles are armed with conventional or nuclear warheads. The program's advancement is a consistent source of international pressure and sanctions. Bridging the gap between Iran's insistence on its right to self-defense and Western demands for a curb on these capabilities is one of the most difficult hurdles to a comprehensive deal.
Human Rights and a Deep Mistrust
Beyond military and strategic concerns, the issue of human rights in Iran is a persistent obstacle. The US has frequently imposed sanctions on Iranian officials and entities for human rights violations, including the suppression of protests and lack of religious freedom. While sanctions have humanitarian exemptions, their broad nature has been criticized for harming ordinary Iranians by restricting access to medicine and other essential goods. This fuels deep resentment and complicates diplomatic overtures. Underlying all these issues is a profound and historic trust deficit. From the 1953 US-backed coup to Washington's 2018 exit from the nuclear deal, both sides have a long list of grievances that breed suspicion and make lasting commitments difficult to secure.
