Iran's Nuclear Policy Change in Rouhani's Administration (2013-2015)

As President Hasan Rouhani took office in August, 2013, the new foreign policy decision makers got into power and the “moderation discourse” prevailed as the main approach of Rouhani's administration towards the outside world. One of the major issues of foreign policy of this term was making some changes in nuclear policy, the most important sign of which was the attainment of a nuclear deal between Iran and the world super powers under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on July 14, 2015. This paper addresses the main effective perceptual changes which have affected Iran's nuclear policy shift. Such perceptual changes include different perceptions of the national role and the creation of a new self-image regarding Iran's desirable status, different perceptions of structural constraints including nuclear sanctions and ultimately a different representation of “other” especially the United States. These perceptual changes of new decision makers affected the management of the nuclear policy from“ deterrent confrontation” to “constructive interaction ”with the west.management of the nuclear policy from“ deterrent confrontation” to “constructive interaction ”with the west.Iran's desirable status, different perceptions of structural constraints including nuclear sanctions and ultimately a different representation of “other” especially the United States. These perceptual changes of new decision makers affected the management of the nuclear policy from“ deterrent confrontation” to “constructive interaction ”with the west.management of the nuclear policy from“ deterrent confrontation” to “constructive interaction ”with the west.Iran's desirable status, different perceptions of structural constraints including nuclear sanctions and ultimately a different representation of “other other ”with the west.Iran's desirable status, different perceptions of structural constraints including nuclear sanctions and ultimately a different representation of “other other ”with the west.Iran's desirable status, different perceptions of structural constraints including nuclear sanctions and ultimately a different representation of “other other ”with the west.Iran's desirable status, different perceptions of structural constraints including nuclear sanctions and ultimately a different representation of “other other