Iran’s parliament passed a bill Oct. 13 approving the nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers. The approval sets in motion the beginning steps of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which will see Iran roll back and reduce the size of its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.
Sanctions relief will not take place, however, until the International Atomic Energy Agency verifies that Iran has taken the necessary steps, which includes removing thousands of centrifuges and converting existing nuclear sites. The multilayered steps, which may take months to implement, have placed Iranians — many of whom voted for President Hassan Rouhani two years ago in hopes that he would improve the economy — in a state nervous anticipation. Since celebrating the landmark nuclear deal in the streets in July, many Iranians have not felt any tangible economic change in their lives. And officials from the administration are trying to reassure nervous Iranians.