3. The US Exit from the Deal in 2018

This chapter looks at the reasons behind the United States’ withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal under the administration of President Donald Trump. It analyzes the global proliferation threat that arose as a result of this decision. The chapter explores the rationale provided by the Trump administration for pulling Washington out of the agreement, particularly the argument that the deal failed to adequately address Iran’s ballistic missile program, its involvement in terrorism, and its role in regional conflicts. Building on the discussion of the terms of the JCPOA in the previous chapter, this section comprehensively examines these terms from the perspective of the Trump administration. The aim is to understand the administration’s justification for its exit policy and its assessment of the flaws in the 2015 nuclear deal. The chapter also examines the consequences of the US withdrawal, particularly in the realm of Iranian nuclear politics. It analyzes the reimposition of sanctions by the United States and its efforts to eliminate Iran’s oil exports. These actions had significant implications for Iran and its nuclear activities. While the chapter provides a brief overview of these consequences, a more detailed analysis is offered in the case study chapter. Furthermore, the chapter highlights the failure of multilateral diplomacy and the security regime resulting from the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal. It explores how the withdrawal undermined the efforts of multilateral diplomacy and raised concerns about the effectiveness of the existing security framework.