US-Iran tensions persist despite fragile diplomacy after JCPOA collapse
Tensions between the US and Iran have shaped the past decade, from nuclear agreements to military confrontations. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) initially eased relations, but its collapse under President Donald Trump reignited hostilities. Recent talks in Islamabad suggest cautious progress, though deep-seated distrust remains. In 2015, Iran agreed to the JCPOA, a landmark deal limiting its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Under the agreement, Tehran reduced uranium enrichment to 3.67% and capped stockpiles at 300 kg. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) gained expanded access to monitor all nuclear sites through the Additional Protocol.
The deal unravelled in 2018 when President Trump withdrew the US, calling it the 'worst deal in US history'. Iran responded by accelerating uranium enrichment and scaling back IAEA inspections. Hardliners in Tehran saw the US exit as proof of American untrustworthiness. Hostilities escalated further in 2020 after the US assassinated General Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike. The killing deepened divisions and stalled diplomatic efforts for years. Recent discussions in Islamabad mark a tentative step toward dialogue. Yet analysts, including David L. Phillips—a former US State Department official and current Academic Visitor at St. Antony’s College, Oxford—warn that rebuilding trust will require time and sustained effort.
The JCPOA once offered a framework for cooperation, but its collapse led to heightened nuclear activity and military tensions. While talks in Islamabad signal a possible thaw, the road to stable relations remains uncertain. Both sides must address long-standing grievances to move beyond the current stalemate.
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