A second Iranian war? The end of the nuclear deal leaves Israel and the U.S. with limited options • The Insider • RIMA

A second Iranian war? The end of the nuclear deal leaves Israel and the U.S. with limited options

Very long-lasting sanctions

The U.S. imposed its first sanctions on Iran shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, in response to the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the prolonged hostage-taking of its staff. Other Western countries, however, were slow to join the effort. It was only in the 2000s, when Iran was suspected of developing nuclear weapons, that Europe decided to take part in the pressure campaign. In turn, the Iranian regime openly asserted its right to enrich uranium. As a result, beginning in December 2006, the UN Security Council started imposing — and gradually tightening — sanctions of its own.

Between 2010 and 2012, the U.S. and the European Union began to target not only Iran’s nuclear program but also its broader economy. The new Western restrictions focused on the country’s energy sector, banking industry, and trade. Meanwhile, Washington tightened secondary sanctions, imposing penalties for those who continued doing business with Tehran. The EU stopped importing Iranian oil, froze the country’s assets, and enacted visa restrictions. These measures dealt a heavy blow to Iran’s economy: oil exports plummeted, the rial collapsed, and foreign companies began pulling out of the country.

At the same time, the West, particularly Europe, still sought to reach a compromise by persuading Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. The arrival of Barack Obama in the White House gave new momentum to the diplomatic process, ultimately leading to the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015. The agreement called for a reduction in the number of Iran’s uranium-enrichment centrifuges, a substantial decrease in its stockpile of enriched material, and the opening of the country’s nuclear facilities to IAEA inspections — all in exchange for the gradual easing of sanctions. UN Security Council Resolution 2231, adopted on July 20, 2015, formalized the deal and established a snapback mechanism, allowing for the rapid reinstatement of sanctions in the event of serious violations.