Money Trumps Fear: Reactions to Nuclear Accord With Iran

Iran has the world’ fourth-largest oil reserves and second-largest gas reserves. Once sanctions are lifted, the population of 77 million will provide a large, eager market. The economy, with a strong manufacturing sector and educated workforce, is diversified, explain Jamsheed Choksy and Carol Choksy in the Conversation, and as a result, “potential economic gains are prevailing over military, terrorism and human rights concerns in shaping responses to the historic deal” on Iran’s nuclear-weapons program. The United Nations and the United States will release about $100 billion of Iranian assets once the International Atomic Energy Agency determines Iran’s compliance with the agreement, possibly before 2016. The article reviews the impact of increased wealth for Iran on the region and the stance of 20 countries including China, Russia and Israel. It’s in Iran’s interest to promote regional stability. – YaleGlobal