Dr Anicée Van Engeland, Associate Professor of International Security and Law at ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥, comments on the US election and what the result may mean for future relations with Iran:
“Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei has announced that the outcome of the election will not impact Iranian politics or policy. Yet, sanctions are still weighing on the authorities and the population, so the stakes seem to be high for Iran.
“President-elect Biden has announced that he would be open to re-joining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, known commonly as the ‘Iran nuclear deal’, and start negotiating. In such a case, it would become vital that sanctions are lifted.
“However, Iranians have remained apathetic to the stakes of the US election, partly because there is a presidential election in Iran in June 2021. The Covid fiasco doubled with the terrible economic situation could lead to the election of a conservative, if not a hardliner. In such circumstances, negotiating with the US looks difficult.
“President-elect Biden will also struggle balancing US interests in the region: he has promised to support US allies in the Middle East and promised hard-nose diplomacy. This could be at the expense of Iran.”
Dr Van Engeland is a leading expert in Iranian affairs and has advised the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, addressed the United Nations and provided briefings to UK armed forces on the subject.
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