Trump Should Revive JCPOA to Prevent War with Iran

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When Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term as President of the United States, he declared that his "proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker." However, US involvement in the Middle East has only grown, with Trump previously authorizing strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and officially entering the short-lived Twelve-Day War with Iran on behalf of Israel. Now, amidst new protests in Iran, Trump has openly called for regime change and signaled a willingness to use military force. As negotiations conclude in Oman, the Trump administration must consider that a hypothetical war would be politically disastrous, with 85% of Americans saying they don't want to be at war with Iran. By reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Trump could signal to the American people and the international community that he is worthy of his self-proclaimed title: "the President of Peace."

Why it matters

The JCPOA, signed in 2015, put limits on the Iranian nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. When Trump withdrew from the agreement during his first term, it signaled a break from the more diplomatic Iran policy of the Obama administration. Sanctions have failed to spark regime change in Iran since they were first imposed in 1979, and limited strikes and assassinations have only made war more likely without providing any material benefits. Reviving the JCPOA could be a pragmatic solution to the threat of nuclear proliferation and foster regional stability.

The details

The JCPOA put limits on the Iranian nuclear program, including capping uranium enrichment, reducing stockpiles, and dismantling some nuclear infrastructure. It also accepted thorough nuclear inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). When Trump withdrew from the agreement, his administration intensified sanctions against Iran in an attempt to renegotiate the JCPOA, but no agreement was reached. Subsequently, the first Trump administration took a hardline stance against Iran, including the illegal assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani. During the Biden presidency, attempts were made to return to the JCPOA framework, but negotiations were indefinitely postponed after Iran began selling weapons to Russia.

• When Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term as President of the United States in 2021.
• In 2015, the JCPOA was signed by the US, Iran, and other global powers.
• During Trump's first term, he withdrew the US from the JCPOA.
• During the Biden presidency, attempts were made to return to the JCPOA framework, but negotiations were indefinitely postponed in 2022.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Trump administration must consider reviving the JCPOA as negotiations conclude in Oman, as it could be a pragmatic solution to the threat of nuclear proliferation and foster regional stability.