Description: After the trilateral meeting between Chinese, Iranian and Russian representatives in Beijing last week, Iran’s nuclear issue was once again discussed. The US sanctions and Donald Trump’s maximum pressure stance have put the country in an economic disarray as their currency has severely plummeted and regions are suffering from water and energy shortages while all infrastructure projects are halted. Signals from the trilateral meeting indicated that both Russia and China have persuaded Iran not to insist on developing their military nuclear capabilities, while sanctions have only exacerbated the situation. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian have insisted on negotiations on an even keel but could possibly crumble under international economic and political pressure.
Impact: Iran’s nuclear question has been one of the key international disputes between the larger geopolitical players such as the US, China and Russia. The current resurgence of US – Russia relations could stem enhanced political pressure on Iran, as they are faced with mounting public disapproval in the country’s foreign policy strategy and considerably worsened economic conditions. Possible future negotiations would have to be reproached by both the US and Iran as the two countries would have to modify their bilateral animosities and devise alternative approaches towards the resolution of the nuclear dispute. Iran is unlikely to crumble from the pressure caused by the sanctions in the short to mid – term however, the possibility remains probable in the long – term as the US is unlikely to backtrack its maximum pressure strategy. Despite mediatory efforts from allied China and Russia, Iran would most probably enhance the hostile rhetoric in the short – term and reassess its options for the mid to long – term which may or may not include faltering from the pressure caused by sanctions.