Benefits of JCPOA Implementation for Iran and the World
December 16th is a very important day in Iran’s foreign policy calendar. Following the fulfillment of their commitments, Iran and the P5+1 announced the implementation of the JCPOA. Based on this agreement, all nuclear-related sanctions against Iran are lifted and a huge part of Iran’s assets will be released. Experts believe that this agreement has resolved many complicated issues. Prior to reaching the agreement and its implementation, the impacts of sanctions were felt on the economy and domestic and foreign policies of Iran. Now that this agreement has been reached, besides the resolution of some economic issues, it will have political impacts at regional and international levels. Aside from economic issues, the following points can be considered after the JCPOA:
1-Confidence-building and goodwill: It is certain that both parties – Iran and the P5+1 – have founded their agreement on the element of confidence-building. It was goodwill and trust that led to the implementation of the JCPOA. But the main point is confidence-building after the JCPOA. During the agreed period – 7, 10 or 15 years- Iran must show that it does not intend to test, produce and acquire nuclear weapons. In fact, this is the main issue of confidence-building upon which Iran and the P5+1 reached an agreement.
2- Regional and international impacts: Another result of JCPOA implementation is that Iran will enter political equations as a regional player, although some states which consider themselves as regional players including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Israel are not happy with this result. The past two years’ tensions in the Middle East indicate this regional rivalry and they will attempt to form the regional scene in a way so that there will be no good relations between Iran and the West and Iran does not play the first role in the region. On the other hand, after the end of political sanctions, Iran will have an open hand in regional issues and equations and Iran’s role in the region would be to the benefit of Iraq, Syria and Yemen. From the international perspective, big powers will count on Iran’s role and influence in the region as a strategic country and they will be willing to cooperate with Iran in the fight against terrorism and resolution of world problems. Therefore, the more Iran shows its collaboration, the more its role would be in these political equations.
3- Fewer threats of war: The nuclear agreement and implementation of the JCPOA remove the threat of war for Iran and big powers. From the viewpoint of the big powers, Iran could help regional and international security by not producing nuclear weapons. Thus, not only P5+1 countries but also other countries intend to improve their relations with Iran.