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Iran

Nuclear deals? Sanctions? Proxy wars? This is Vox’s home for explanation and analysis of a key player in the Middle East.

Defense & Security
The GOP has no good options for killing the Iran dealThe GOP has no good options for killing the Iran deal
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Defense & Security

Congress probably won’t kill the deal. And a Republican president almost certainly can’t.

By Zack Beauchamp
World Politics
How Iran’s economy could blow up the nuclear dealHow Iran’s economy could blow up the nuclear deal
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World Politics

Expectations in Iran are way too high for what the deal will do. What happens when the truth sets in?

By Max Fisher
World Politics
This conversation really helped me understand the Iran dealThis conversation really helped me understand the Iran deal
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World Politics

“It makes the possibility of Iran developing a nuclear weapon in the next 25 years extremely remote.”

By Max Fisher
The 6 biggest myths about the Iran nuclear deal
Defense & Security
By Max Fisher and Amanda Taub
Defense & Security
The 6 biggest myths about the Iran nuclear dealThe 6 biggest myths about the Iran nuclear deal
Defense & Security

Some of these are rooted in real truth — but others are just nonsense.

By Max Fisher and Amanda Taub
World Politics
This is an astoundingly good Iran dealThis is an astoundingly good Iran deal
World Politics

Why nuclear experts give the deal an A, and say it resolves the Iran nuclear issue for the next 25 years.

By Max Fisher
Defense & Security
I looked at the leading Iran hawks’ cases against the deal. They’re utter nonsense.I looked at the leading Iran hawks’ cases against the deal. They’re utter nonsense.
Defense & Security

Taking a close look at the most prominent hawkish articles is extremely revealing.

By Matthew Yglesias
Explainers
Iran’s nuclear program after the deal: a visual guideIran’s nuclear program after the deal: a visual guide
Explainers

Here’s the numbers in terms of centrifuges, stockpiles, and enriched uranium.

By Javier Zarracina
Israel
This Iran deal is a disaster for Benjamin NetanyahuThis Iran deal is a disaster for Benjamin Netanyahu
Israel

It probably couldn’t be worse.

By Zack Beauchamp
Video
What I learned by befriending Iranians on FacebookWhat I learned by befriending Iranians on Facebook
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Video

Things are changing in Iran. Befriending Iranians online gave me a view into how that’s happening.

By Johnny Harris
World Politics
It’s not Obama who’s too afraid of Iran. It’s Iran hawks.It’s not Obama who’s too afraid of Iran. It’s Iran hawks.
World Politics

Iran hawks’ chest-thumping is a mask for their crippling fear.

By Amanda Taub
World Politics
The real reason the Iran deal is so controversialThe real reason the Iran deal is so controversial
World Politics

The Iran deal touches on the most fundamental disputes that split Americans on foreign policy.

By Zack Beauchamp
Defense & Security
Why Iran hawks can’t be honest about why they hate the Iran dealWhy Iran hawks can’t be honest about why they hate the Iran deal
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Defense & Security

Their problem with the Iran deal is that 1) it’s a deal, and 2) it’s with Iran.

By Matthew Yglesias
Defense & Security
The Iran deal is historic. And only Obama could have gotten it.The Iran deal is historic. And only Obama could have gotten it.
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Defense & Security

Only Obama could have stopped the Iranian bomb — and without war.

By Amanda Taub
How the Iran deal works, explained in under 3 minutes
Video

What to know about the most important aspects of this historic deal.

By Max Fisher and Johnny Harris
Defense & Security
“I would give it an A”: Why nuclear experts love the Iran deal“I would give it an A”: Why nuclear experts love the Iran deal
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Defense & Security

An arms control expert’s case for the deal: It is a great way to curb Iran’s nuclear program.

By Max Fisher
World Politics
Arms control experts are tweeting praise for the Iran nuclear dealArms control experts are tweeting praise for the Iran nuclear deal
World Politics

But they have some reservations.

By Dylan Matthews
Climate
What the Iran nuclear deal means for oil pricesWhat the Iran nuclear deal means for oil prices
Climate

The deal could open up a huge new source of oil — but it will take months or even years to have a major impact.

By Brad Plumer
Iran
Vox Sentences: The Iran nuclear deal, explained 5 different waysVox Sentences: The Iran nuclear deal, explained 5 different ways
Iran

We’ve got you covered.

By Dylan Matthews
Defense & Security
Here’s what will happen if Iran cheats on the nuclear dealHere’s what will happen if Iran cheats on the nuclear deal
Defense & Security

Yes, Iran might cheat on the nuclear deal. The really important part is what happens next.

By Amanda Taub
Defense & Security
What the Iran deal means for America’s place in the Middle EastWhat the Iran deal means for America’s place in the Middle East
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Defense & Security

A leading expert explains how the US should handle the difficult political aftermath of the deal.

By Zack Beauchamp
Politics
Obama’s Iran deal is making Democrats in Congress very nervousObama’s Iran deal is making Democrats in Congress very nervous
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Politics

The politics of the nuclear nonproliferation pact aren’t as good for many congressional Democrats as the policy.

By Jonathan Allen
World Politics
The best part of the Iran deal: no war with IranThe best part of the Iran deal: no war with Iran
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World Politics

The Iran deal dramatically lowers the risk of war with Iran. That’s an accomplishment worth celebrating.

By Zack Beauchamp
Climate
The Iran nuclear deal, translated into plain EnglishThe Iran nuclear deal, translated into plain English
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Climate

Each of the items mentioned in the deal, along with a simple translation into plain English and a brief description of why it matters.

By Max Fisher
Politics
How Congress could kill the Iran deal, and why it probably won’tHow Congress could kill the Iran deal, and why it probably won’t
Politics

A sizable chunk of Democrats would have to turn against the administration.

By Andrew Prokop
Defense & Security
The Iran nuclear deal, explained in fewer than 500 wordsThe Iran nuclear deal, explained in fewer than 500 words
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Defense & Security

A very simple explanation of the nuclear deal and why it matters.

By Max Fisher
World Politics
2 tweets that explain the real debate over the Iran deal2 tweets that explain the real debate over the Iran deal
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World Politics

It’s really about whether you think any deal is a good deal.

By Zack Beauchamp
Defense & Security
Conservatives have opposed every diplomatic breakthrough for decadesConservatives have opposed every diplomatic breakthrough for decades
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Defense & Security

From FDR to Nixon to Obama to even Reagan, every deal is denounced as appeasement.

By Matthew Yglesias
World Politics
Ian Bremmer on why the Iran deal is about much more than nuclear weaponsIan Bremmer on why the Iran deal is about much more than nuclear weapons
World Politics

“It’s fairly clear you’d rather have this deal than not if you’re America.”

By Ezra Klein
Defense & Security
Watch: Full video of Obama’s speech on the Iran nuclear dealWatch: Full video of Obama’s speech on the Iran nuclear deal
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Defense & Security

The president said that “this deal is not built on trust; it is built on verification.”

By Amanda Taub
Defense & Security
The Iran deal began with George W. BushThe Iran deal began with George W. Bush
Defense & Security

It’s true.

By Zack Beauchamp
Defense & Security
Here’s the full text of the Iran nuclear dealHere’s the full text of the Iran nuclear deal
Defense & Security

For a highly technical document, the text is surprisingly readable.

By Max Fisher
Defense & Security
Iran nuclear deal: Historic accord reachedIran nuclear deal: Historic accord reached
Defense & Security

We have a deal.

By Matthew Yglesias
World Politics
Iran nuclear deal: 3 crucial issues to watch forIran nuclear deal: 3 crucial issues to watch for
World Politics

These three things could make or break whether this is a good deal for the world.

By Max Fisher
World Politics
This is a great point about Iran’s official anti-AmericanismThis is a great point about Iran’s official anti-Americanism
World Politics

And how it’s different from the anti-Americanism in the rest of the Middle East.

By Max Fisher
Israel
Benjamin Netanyahu is freaking out about the Iran dealBenjamin Netanyahu is freaking out about the Iran deal
Israel

“Iran’s ultimate goal is to take over the world.”

By Zack Beauchamp
World Politics
If the Iran talks fail, we won’t just revert to the status quo. It’ll be worse.If the Iran talks fail, we won’t just revert to the status quo. It’ll be worse.
World Politics

There’s a very good chance international sanctions collapse, allowing Iran to get tons of money and build up its nuclear program with impunity.

By Zack Beauchamp
How one Iranian woman is using Facebook to fight Iran’s mandatory dress code
Video

Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad grew up in a conservative family in Iran. But her natural impulse toward freedom turned her into an advocate for women’s rights.

By Johnny Harris
World Politics
The real reason the State Dept is Twitter fighting with the NY Times about IranThe real reason the State Dept is Twitter fighting with the NY Times about Iran
World Politics

There is a deeper issue underneath the silly spat.

By Max Fisher
Climate
There’s a big debate in Moscow over whether to support the Iran nuclear dealThere’s a big debate in Moscow over whether to support the Iran nuclear deal
Climate

Russian leaders are convinced the US and Iran are headed for rapprochement.

By Max Fisher