Continuity and Change in Iranian Politics After The Nuclear Deal

Controversies over the nuclear program of Iran were solved diplomatically through an agreement between Iran and P5+1 countries on 14 July 2015. However, many pundits viewed this agreement as a step to transform Iran and the region through its political, economic, and regional implications, rather than an agreement simply over the ‘nuclear issue.’ This study reviews continuity and change in Iranian politics a year after the nuclear deal. Parliamentary elections of February 2016 and the presidential elections to be held next June created heated debates in Iran. While addressing the debates in Iran, this study highlights three issues including the state of relations with the West, basic economic policies and cultural policies that come into prominence. In fact, those issues are main sources of contention and differences in Iranian politics since the revolution. Hence, it could be stated that there is no considerable change in Iranian politics a year after the nuclear deal.