The Iran Nuclear Deal

 “This important book offers a new theory and policy-related insights with respect to the Iran nuclear deal. It is the first study to see the nuclear deal as a means toward confidence-building between longstanding enemies. Iranian proliferation activities prior to the deal emerged as a result of simultaneous protracted conflicts with the US, Israel and Iraq. The volume offers a unique comparative analysis of Iranian nuclear policy over time and will be of great interest to academics and foreign policy practitioners alike.”

- Patrick James, Dean’s Professor of International Relations, University of Southern California
 This in-depth study perceptively illuminates how the Iranian nuclear deal unraveled after the Trump administration withdrew, and with what consequences. The case reveals how relations between rival states can be improved through the positive spill-over effects of cooperative arrangements, but also how rapid and comprehensive spill-back can result from their unravelling. With her compelling analysis Khan persuasively demonstrates the importance of a renewed agreement with Iran backed by the United States.”
- Annette Freyberg-Inan, Professor of International Relations Theory, University of Amsterdam


This book introduces a novel theory surrounding the spillback effects stemming from the fracture of cooperative arrangements, exemplified by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and rigorously examines its applicability through an in-depth analysis of the Iranian context. The book draws connections between the JCPOA and the broader landscape of conflict resolution and contends that cooperation can manifest between protracted conflict states, and once established through trust and confidence-building measures, can lead to spill-over effects into other domains. This comprehensive study undertakes a unique comparative analysis, scrutinizing Iran's proclivity towards proliferation before theJCPOA, the period of subdued proliferation during the deal's existence, and the subsequent surge in proliferation activities following US withdrawal. This book marks essential reading for researchers interested in Iranian politics, Middle Eastern politics, nuclear proliferation, US foreign policy, and international relations theory.


Saira Khan is an international affairs expert with a career spanning over twenty years as a Professor of International Relations.