Balancing Resistance and Engagements: The Politics of Iran Nuclear Policy and US Economic Sanctions

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine Iran's dual strategy of engagement and resistance from 2015 to 2026, alongside the development of its nuclear program and the comprehensive sanctions time introduced by the United States. While previous studies have explored aspects of the Iranian nuclear issue, it remains one of the most complex and ending challenges in contemporary international relations, characterized by a delicate balance between diplomatic neglect and economic pressure. The Iran's nuclear activities, combined with the extensive sanctions enforced by the United States, have consistent drawn international attention and concern. A major diplomatic engagement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) assent in 2015, temporarily limiting Iran's nuclear operations in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the agreement was signifiable undermined by the Trump administration's unilateral withdrawal in 2018 and the subsequent “maximum pressure” campaign, which allowed Iran to progressively expand its nuclear capabilities. Building on early research, this paper focuses on Iran's nuclear strategy and sanctions experience through an analytical review of policy developments, diplomatic negotiations, and sanctions implementation over the 2015–2026 period. Consequent of stalled negotiations, Iran is currently nearer to developing nuclear weapons than at any time since the JCPOA. The proof suggests that, even though sanctions have introduced considerable economic costs, they have been influential to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions without sustained diplomatic engagement. The future of Iran's nuclear strategy will depend on the inference of creative diplomatic solutions that balance coercive pressure with credit assurances, addressing the fundamental trust deficit between Washington and Tehran