The Days After a Deal with Iran

One of a series of RAND perspectives on what the Middle East and U.S. policy might look like in "the days after a deal", this perspective examines the choices the United States will confront in its policies toward Iran and its regional partners in the event that a final nuclear agreement is reached between Iran and the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany (the P5+1). A framework is in place for the achievement of a nuclear agreement with Iran. Without predicting that a deal will be signed, the potential for reaching an agreement is great enough to warrant planning for such an outcome. In this planning, policymakers need to consider whether the current consensus that is developing (a cautious hedging/accommodating partner perspectives) risks losing the opportunities presented by a nuclear agreement with Iran and even Iran's willingness to proceed with its implementation.