Following comments from US President-Elect Joe Biden that his administration would be willing to resume the former Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran nuclear deal) sanction relief provided that Iran retracted their current violations of the agreement, Iran has stated that they will progress their own pursuit of weapons-grade uranium and, ultimately, nuclear weapons.
The Iran nuclear deal, orchestrated by US President Obama, allowed for Iran to resume global oil exports conditional upon them cutting their ability to produce nuclear weapons. This was agreed upon, however several years later the following Trump administration violated the terms of the agreement and reimposed sanctions on Iran, citing concerns of being taken advantage of and establishing an irrational nuclear state. In the years since, Iran has increasingly relied on Chinese business to stimulate their black gold economy and slowly engaged in the development of nuclear weapons. Iran has begun construction on a heavy-water reactor with which they will be able to engineer weapons-grade uranium and chemical components for nuclear weapons, projected to be finished in 2021.
Iran has faced adversity in this decision: surrounding rivals have taken strong stances and even military/reconnaissance action against Iran and their nuclear scientists, leading to increasing regional tensions. The Iran nuclear deal was intended to be a stabilizing plan of action, and it’s clear without it that the polarization of the Middle East is once again being exacerbated. To powerful Iranian neighbors such as Saudis and Israelis, a rival state on the nuclear stage is a looming threat and diplomatic leverage affecting trade and regional influence.