Make Me Smart

What happened to the Iran nuclear deal?

Jun 24, 2025
Rose Kelanic, Director of the Middle East Program at Defense Priorities, delves into the tangled history of U.S.-Iran relations, starting from the CIA-led coup in 1953. She discusses how sanctions were wielded to influence Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the breakdown of the 2015 nuclear deal. Kelanic also explains recent military actions and their limited impact on Iran's nuclear capabilities. The conversation sheds light on the complex geopolitical landscape, the struggle for trust in negotiations, and the human costs of ongoing conflicts.
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INSIGHT

1953 Coup's Lasting Impact

  • The 1953 CIA-supported coup against Iran's Mossadegh deeply shaped Iran-U.S. distrust.
  • This event seeded decades of resentment due to U.S. prioritizing oil interests over Iran's sovereignty.
INSIGHT

Nuclear Tensions Escalate Early 2000s

  • U.S. nuclear concerns arose early but Iran's nuclear program was initially civilian.
  • Iran's secret sites discovered in early 2000s intensified international tensions significantly.
INSIGHT

Sanctions Led To Nuclear Deal

  • Secondary sanctions from early 2010s effectively crippled Iran's economy more than prior sanctions.
  • These sanctions helped bring Iran to the 2015 nuclear deal negotiations.
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