MESF hosted a public panel event on May 23 at which Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh and Dr Dara Conduit discussed the future of the Iran nuclear deal.
The panellists expressed dismay at the US decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal unilaterally, without using the grievance mechanisms built into the deal. Prof Akbarzadeh was concerned about about the potential ramifications of the withdrawal on both Iranian domestic politics, as well as for the region more broadly. The US decision has caused President Hassan Rouhani and his supporters significant embarrassment inside Iran, which could play into the hands of hardliners. Dr Conduit noted that while the emboldening of Iran’s hardliners could lead to an expansion of Iran’s damaging policies across the region, it remained a rational actor and would be careful not to overplay its new hand.
A video recording of the panel is available online here.