The reimposition of sanctions will precipitate the end of the agreement on Iran's nuclear power, warn some experts: NPR

The Trump administration imposes significant sanctions on Iran, thus ending America's involvement in a nuclear deal that it helped to forge in 2015.

As of November 5, Iran will see the imposition of radical sanctions on its banking, maritime and oil sectors. This decision "will put a strain on Iran's ability to conduct economic activities internationally," said Corey Hinderstein, vice president of the nonprofit nuclear threat initiative.

The new sanctions are the last step in President Trump's promise to remove the United States from the Iranian nuclear deal, which lifted the sanctions in exchange for limits to the country's nuclear program.

"The fact is it was a horrible, one-sided agreement that should never have been reached," Trump said in a statement that removed the United States from the May deal.

The 2015 nuclear agreement aimed to solve a very specific problem. At the time, Iran used thousands of centrifuges. It had enriched uranium up to 20%, well above the level required for a commercial nuclear reactor. According to Hinderstein, Iran is about to develop a nuclear bomb.

"They could have produced enough material, highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons, in a few weeks," said Hinderstein, who helped negotiate the deal as part of the deal. Obama administration.

So, in exchange for the return of enriched uranium, shelving equipment and opening to inspections, the agreement lifted the sanctions. The United States was not alone: ​​Europe, Russia and China were all part of the deal.

"I think this deal was the best we could have achieved at the time," Hinderstein said.

Not everyone agrees with this assessment.

"I think his flaws have been known since the beginning," said Olli Heinonen, a former arms inspector with the conservative foundation for the defense of democracies.

Under the agreement, some of the restrictions to Iran's enrichment activities are only temporary. And the agreement totally ignores Iran's efforts to build powerful missiles that can deliver nuclear weapons.

"It's also important that the delivery vehicle is part of your verification system," says Heinonen.

The complaints of the Trump administration about this deal go even further. It wants to solve a dozen problems, only four of which concern the nuclear program. The rest concerns activities such as sponsorship of terrorism and support for groups opposed to US interests in the region.

Until all these issues are settled, sanctions are reinstated – although Friday, the United States announced that they would grant temporary waivers to eight countries buying Iranian oil, which is the only one in the world. India, Japan and South Korea.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described Friday's re-imposition of sanctions as a "maximum pressure" policy aimed at bringing Iran back to the table. And Heinonen thinks that it is possible to develop another more complete plan. "I think the Iranians will agree to negotiate another agreement, it is in their interest," he said.

But Hinderstein and the others are not so sure. Until now, Iran has held its share of the market by allowing inspectors and limiting research. But it was with the expectation of economic benefits. Now, even companies from countries participating in the agreement will not be able to do business in the United States if they deal with Iran without derogation.

The Trump administration relies on its pressure policy to bring Iran back to the table. But Hinderstein said that with the divided international community, "I see no hope of a better deal on the horizon".