| Summary/Abstract |
The prospect of a nuclear‐armed Iran unsettled neighboring countries and threatened a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. To thwart Iran's ambition, the international community imposed an increasingly crippling series of economic sanctions. The regime responded by entering negotiations in 2013 that culminated in a deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed by Iran and the P5+1 on July 14, 2015. Iran committed itself to a serious rollback of its nuclear project in exchange for sanctions relief. In December 2015, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) certified Iran to be in compliance with the agreement, paving the way for sanctions relief. The IAEA promised stringent oversight of Iran's remaining civil program for the 15‐year duration of the agreement. All sides expressed optimism that the deal would prevent proliferation in the Middle East.1
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