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Home / Iran / What happened to the Iran nuclear deal?
Iran, Israel‑Iran, Middle East, US‑Israel‑Iran

June 24, 2025

What happened to the Iran nuclear deal?

The United States’ entanglement in Iran and Israel’s current conflict has a long, complicated history. Today we’re looking back at how it led up to the U.S. strikes on Iran over the weekend.

Two major factors: Iran’s nuclear capabilities and economic sanctions, which the U.S. used to deter Iran’s nuclear program and to incentivize Iran to sign on to the 2015 nuclear deal.

“Even people who don’t really believe that sanctions are very effective look at that as an example where it does seem like it mattered to Iran and brought them to the table,” said Rose Kelanic, director of the Middle East Program at Defense Priorities.

On the show today, Kelanic explains some of the history behind tensions between the U.S. and Iran, the role sanctions played in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, and how the deal ultimately broke down.

Later, one listener’s take on the Trump administration’s threats to the Pell Grant program. And, a gardening blogger was wrong about DIY plant food hacks.

Read at Marketplace

Featuring

Rosemary
Kelanic

Director, Middle East Program

Defense Priorities

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