The Process of Nuclear Agreement and US Perception of Iran's Strategic Rationality

The United States’ official documents, Contrary to media coverage, clearly states that Islamic Republic of Iran is a rational actor. This rationality is considered to be a window for influencing Tehran. This strategic perception coupled with the condition of uncertainty in post Islamic Awakening middle east have been shaping US’ means of foreign policy, including sanction, towards Iran. Following the Iran’s presidential election and Geneva Nuclear Agreement (JPOA) in 2013 Washington has reevaluated the efficacy of its policy and tools. This paper, focusing on official discourse of US administration, is to answer “what’s been the US assessment of Iran following JPOA and how this assessment affects US- Iran strategic competition in the region”. This paper concludes that US assessment of JPOA as a setback for Iran leads to a situation wherein “prevention” from the “paths” of realization of Iran’s unconventional options while intensification of conventional and asymmetric confrontation turns to be a plausible policy. Finally this paper offers the pillars of Iran’s needed strategy to overcome this situation