Hot Topic № 8 (19), 2025. The JCPOA: An Example of Diplomatic Will in the Face of Geopolitical Challenges

Hot Topic

The JCPOA remains a prime example of what diplomacy can achieve when backed by genuine political will. The recent events of the past month, marked by the unprovoked aggression of Israel and the United States against Iran and its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, have only reinforced the symbolic significance of the JCPOA as the product of intensive, multifaceted, intellectually rigorous, and protracted negotiations. A combination of unique political, conceptual, and technical solutions made possible an agreement that, while potentially complex for a superficial understanding, was workable and took into account the interests of all parties involved. This agreement demonstrated its effectiveness not only before the unilateral and unauthorized withdrawal of the United States but also, to some extent, afterward. It should also be noted that agreements fundamentally based on the principle of voluntary self-restraint by states, such as the JCPOA with regard to Iran’s nuclear program, are always the most difficult to negotiate and conclude.

The JCPOA was both a product and a victim of its time. On the one hand, the deal was made possible in large part thanks to the transforming world order, in which the unipolar world was naturally being replaced by a new configuration of international relations. On the other hand, the JCPOA found itself caught between the old and the yet-to-be-established new paradigms, at a time when those seeking to maintain full control and dominance have little regard for diplomacy, compliance with international obligations, long-term planning, or complex arrangements. It is to be hoped that these countries will soon move through stages of recognizing and accepting the new realities of interstate interaction, and that diplomacy will once again be embraced as the primary and effective mechanism for resolving complex problems.

Keywords: Iran, Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Global Security, JCPOA

NPT

E16/SHAH – 25/07/14