Navigating a Nuclear Minefield: The United States, Europe, and Iran

U.S. and European policymakers worry that a nuclear Iran would fundamentally change the strategic face of the Middle East and wider region. Since November 2011, the United States and Europe have led an international effort to introduce more sanctions on Iran. But the history of sanctions against Iran shows that, while effective at crippling the country’s economy, they have been far less successful in persuading Iranian leaders to relent on core policy issues.