Biden’s Iran Deal: An Assessment

As the Biden administration imposes broad sanctions on Russia in a late attempt to deter military advancements and aggression in Ukraine, it has also been quietly waiving, releasing and otherwise not enforcing extensive sanctions that were part of the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran. From a foreign policy standpoint, this administration has been singularly focused on rejoining a deal with the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, responsible for the deaths of thousands of American soldiers and untold numbers of innocent civilians the world over. Iran has been seeking nuclear weapons and expanding its nuclear programs, infrastructure, and facilities since the signing of the JCPOA in 2015.

None of this makes sense, but Behnam Ben Taleblu helped us break down what’s going on in the negotiations taking place in Vienna. What might a final but weaker and more dangerous deal look like? What is the likelihood that Biden will agree to all of Iran’s demands? What is the impact of reversing the maximum pressure sanctions that had been very effective? And what lessons from those sanctions can be applied to the Russian war in Ukraine?

Frequently called upon to brief journalists, congressional staff, and other Washington-audiences, Behnam has also testified before the U.S. Congress and Canadian Parliament.His analysis has been quoted in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Fox News, The Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse, among others. Additionally, he has contributed to or co-authored articles for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Fox News, The Hill, War on the Rocks, The National Interest, and U.S. News & World Report. Behnam has appeared on a variety of broadcast programs, including BBC News, Fox News, CBS Interactive, C-SPAN, and Defense News.

Behnam earned his MA in International Relations from The University of Chicago, and his BA in International Affairs and Middle East Studies from The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.