\n\n“The 2015 Iran deal came together after years of U.S. and international sanctions battered the Islamic Republic\u2019s economy and internal political shifts made an agreement more viable. The deal, which seven countries negotiated, lifted nuclear-related sanctions on Iran in exchange for severe curbs on its nuclear program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the nuclear deal left in place numerous other U.S. sanctions on Iran, such as those related to the Islamist regime\u2019s support for terrorism, its ballistic missile program and its human rights abuses. Many of the U.S. sanctions are especially powerful because they apply to non-American entities who would otherwise want to do business with Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump took office complaining that the nuclear agreement was too narrowly focused and that its provisions didn\u2019t last long enough. He withdrew the U.S. from the deal in 2018 \u2014 then reimposed the nuclear-related sanctions while also piling on new sanctions on other fronts, such as ones targeting the Iranian regime\u2019s corruption or its backing of terrorist activity. Overall, the sanctions have badly hit Iran\u2019s economy, which also has been hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the U.S. departure, Iran, too, has taken steps that have put it out of compliance with the agreement, including enriching uranium to 20 percent purity. Iranian leaders say they\u2019ll return to compliance with the deal once the United States lifts its sanctions \u2014 ideally returning to the 2016 status, they say. But Biden has indicated he wants Iran to return to compliance first before he\u2019ll lift sanctions.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“People who worked in the Trump administration say the new president shouldn\u2019t lift any of the sanctions because the nuclear deal isn\u2019t worth reviving. Rather, they argue that the Trump team handed Biden a gift by placing Iran\u2019s Islamist regime under such intense pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t let up,\u201d said Len Khodorkovsky, a former senior State Department adviser on Iran policy. \u201cThe only way to get positive movement out of Iran is to increase pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The deal\u2019s supporters, however, point out that Trump\u2019s strategy failed to push Iran into talks for a more stringent agreement. Nor has Tehran stopped other behavior that has upset the U.S. and its allies, such as backing militias outside its borders; it\u2019s also closer to being able to build a nuclear weapon today than it was when the U.S. was in the deal.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Former U.S. officials say it\u2019s possible that Biden\u2019s final decisions will result in a mixed picture: Non-nuclear sanctions with a solid legal basis will stay on, while other sanctions \u2013 such as some that appear intended to wreck the nuclear deal \u2013 will likely be removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Biden team might also take an incremental approach: Offer some limited sanctions relief in exchange for initial actions on Iran\u2019s part to roll back its recent nuclear advances as a first step toward a full return to the agreement by both countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is pressure to move quickly. For one thing, Iran\u2019s presidential election, set for June, could usher into power a hardline government opposed to the nuclear deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But when asked for comment, a State Department official indicated the process of returning to the agreement will take longer than many advocates might wish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIran is a long way from returning to compliance, and there are many steps in the process we will need to evaluate,\u201d the official said in a written statement. \u201cOur first order of business will be consulting with Congress and our allies on the path forward.\u201d”<\/p>\n\n\n\n