International rehabilitation beckons as Iran signs nuclear deal

After years of deadlock and months of intense negotiations, Iran and the P5+1 group of five United Nations Security Council (UNSC) permanent members plus Germany finally signed a comprehensive deal on Iran’s nuclear programme on 14 July in Vienna. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will allow Iran to develop a civil nuclear programme within the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty framework; it should give the necessary assurances Tehran will not develop an atomic bomb; and sanctions will be lifted as a rich (US neo-conservatives say $150bn) reward.