Washington-Téhéran : l'élection de Joe Biden change-t-elle la donne ?
The recent assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the father of Iran's nuclear program, echoes that of Qassem Soleimani in January 2020 and illustrates the policy of "maximum pressure" which has prevailed these past four years. In this context, Joe Biden's election gives rise to high expectations for the appeasement of U.S.-Iran relations.
Following the Trump administration's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May 2018 and to impose new sanctions, the relations between Washington and Teheran have reached their worst. Joe Biden's election seems to allow for the possibility of appeasement, especially as he nominates former Obama officials to his future Cabinet.
Will Biden manage to restore relations despite the Trump administration's renewed desire to exert "maximal pressure" in their last months in power? How much leeway will he have in the Senate to fulfill his campaign promise to reenter the Iran nuclear deal?
This content is available in French: Washington-Téhéran : l'élection de Joe Biden change-t-elle la donne ?
Author(s)
Related centers and programs
Discover our other research centers and programs
Americas Program
Ifri's work on the Americas region focuses mainly on the United States. Indeed, for more than 20 years, Ifri's Americas Program has provided keys to understanding American society and domestic policy while shedding light on developments in the country's foreign policy, including transatlantic relations and trade issues.
Since 2023, a specific axis on Latin America structures more actively Ifri's research on this region.
Ifri's Canada program was active in 2015 and 2016.
Find out more
Discover all our analyses
AUKUS Rocks the Boat in the Indo-Pacific, And It’s Not Good News
For anyone who still harbored doubts, Washington made crystal clear from the announcement of the new trilateral alliance with Australia and the UK (AUKUS) that countering China is its number one priority, and that it will do whatever it takes to succeed. Much has been said about the consequences of AUKUS on the French-US relations, but the strategic implications for the Indo-Pacific nations (including France), and for China especially, are also critical to consider.
L’inégalité du Collège électoral aux États-Unis : comment réparer la démocratie américaine ?
Since the start of the 21st century, the flaws of the Electoral College, which completes the election process of the president of the United States by indirect universal suffrage, are the target of stronger than ever criticism.
Trade Wars: A French Perspective
The Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum announced by the United States in March would, if applied, have little direct impact on the French economy, but rather point toward a broader trend of protectionism and economic nationalism and a widening gap in transatlantic relations that is likely to have far-reaching implications for France.
Bad cop, Bad cop : la nomination de Mike Pompeo et John Bolton
Benjamin Haddad, a Research Fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington D.C., reviews Mike Pompeo's appointment as the new U.S. Secretary of State and John Bolton's recent nomination as National Security Advisor. According to Haddad, U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed two lawyers known for their hawkish and interventionist stands on foreign policy and security matters. He thus explains what official policies are to be expected on Iran, North Korea and Russia.