Iran backs down

After lengthy negotiations and U.S. sanctions that have crippled the economy of Iran, Iran has finally agreed to a settlement. It has agreed to not build new plants and promised to not install new reactors for nuclear missles. They were also given $7 billion in sanctions relief, due to the hit their economy took from U.S. sanctions. Although Iran fought long and hard, Obama saw no other option. He was quoted saying about prior negotiations that "Unless the agreement requires dismantling of Iranian centrifuges, we really haven't gained anything." Not only has Iran agreed to stop proliferation potential, they have even accepted stricter scrutiny by the U.S. to monitor their nuclear weapons programs. France, Britain, Germany, China, and Russia backed the new deal.

Although the Iranian deal is a victory for the U.S., it is unclear if this victory has long term longevity. I argue that despite the immediate safety of U.S. national security is now intact, the scrutiny and harm imposed on Iran won't sit well in the middle eastern communities that we have sought to stabilize for so long. Anything the U.S. does with one middle eastern country seems to have a ripple-effect in the region. This means that neighboring countries to Iran and potential allies will view this victory for the U.S. as another example of their intimidating presence. This may also harms a decrease in legitimacy over whether the U.S. truly wants peace and cooperation with the middle east; to them it can just look like the U.S. wants its way.

I am sure the Obama administration has thought hard about the best way to diplomatically address Iran's nuclear threat. Now that it has been successful, the U.S. has to follow through with it's public diplomacy strategy to stabilize anti-u.s. dissent in the middle east and keep other civil wars and acts of terror from happening. With the damage that the U.S. has done to Iran's economy, the tone is definitely set for strong dissent and retaliation from civilians that are now suffering from it.

Obama may be celebrating a victory, but will have to keep a watchful eye.