America’s European allies have struggled to keep the Iran nuclear deal alive after U.S. President Donald Trump quit the accord more than two years ago. Joe Biden’s election victory won’t provide a quick resuscitation.
Biden said during the presidential campaign that Trump’s Iran policy weakened U.S. national security and left Tehran closer than ever to being able to build a nuclear bomb. He vowed to get on the phone with allies on "day one” to begin rebuilding strained ties and said he’d give Iran a "credible path back to diplomacy.”
But Iran’s mid-2021 presidential election, as well as likely continued Republican control of the U.S. Senate, will put the brakes on quick, substantive action, according to U.S. and Iranian diplomats and analysts. In addition, Biden has signaled that his priorities starting Jan. 20 will be on the economy and getting the coronavirus pandemic under control.