The current Iranian administration has made remarkable progress in its pursuit of a comprehensive nuclear agreement with the world powers. However, it has done far more poorly in its managing of domestic expectations from the immediate impact of a potential deal. Ultimately, this may have a grave effect on its ability to bank on an accord to pursue its broader agenda of political reform and liberalization. Failure to do the latter, in turn, has the potential to undermine popular support.
As Al-Monitor first reported June 26, based on interviews with multiple Iranian sources, a potential final nuclear deal between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1) will consist of three phases: adoption, operation and implementation. Adoption refers to an accord in Vienna on the main agreement text and annexes for respective domestic review. Operation will see each side completing its internal review processes and subsequently beginning agreed-upon measures to commence implementation of the deal. When these measures have been taken, implementation will begin as an automatic mechanism links the finalization of Iranian measures with the lifting of Western economic, banking and financial sanctions.