Date: 5th November, 2015
Venue: Rotana
- Jane Arraf, Journalist, (Chair)
- John Jenkin, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Bahrain
- Ken Pollack, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institute, USA
- Alireza Miryousefi, Director for Middle East Studies, IPIS, Iran
October 19, 2015 was the “Adoption Day” for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the JCPOA or Iran Agreement) between Iran and the P5+1. For its part, Iran has committed to implement the Additional Protocol of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the “Road-map for the Clarification of Past and Present Outstanding Issues.” The EU and the US, in turn, issued conditional sanctions waivers with effect from Implementation Day. This is a milestone as the deal came into force 90 days after its endorsement by the UN Security Council.
“I cannot imagine another American President who is going to be quite as willing and determined to reach out the hand.”
Ken Pollack
Given the mistrust between sides, but also the long timeframe until the Termination Day in 2025 and the complex technicalities of the nuclear issues, the panellists will debate the viability of the deal paying attention to the deliverables required by all sides.
“Economic development is in the benefit of all countries. It prevents the basis for violence and terrorism.”
Alireza Miryousefi
Furthermore, they will be focusing on the effects that the agreement will have on regional dynamics in terms of security, domestic politics, economy and interstate relations. For example, will the agreement affect the war in Iraq and Syria, Saudi Arabia’s actions in the Middle East, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and if so, in what ways?