The Consequences of the United States' Withdrawal from the JCPOA on the National Security of the Islamic Republic of Iran

The JCPOA aimed to resolve nuclear discussions between Iran and the West through multilateralism. The research examines the national security implications of the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, the imposition of unilateral sanctions by the United States, and Iran's reduced commitments in response to this withdrawal. The study also discusses the approval of a proposed resolution by the United States, Britain, France, and Germany in the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors, the resurfacing of the issue of extending arms embargoes against Iran, and the US efforts to activate the "snapback" mechanism in the Security Council. Using a qualitative approach based on document analysis and the collection and analysis of textual and electronic data, the research applies a theoretical framework of offensive realism to address the security implications of the US withdrawal from the JCPOA for the Islamic Republic of Iran. The findings indicate that the US withdrawal from the JCPOA led to the reinstatement of previous missile sanctions and the imposition of more severe unilateral sanctions, which had an impact on key security issues in the Persian Gulf region. Some Persian Gulf countries perceived Iran as a significant threat due to conventional and asymmetrical missile capabilities and increased regional influence, leading to a decline in Iran's national security and fueling the desire of these countries to procure arms.