From Mistrust to Verification: JCPOA

The US argued for a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action(JCPOA) without the sunset clause as it did not trust Iran to comply with the IAEA, NPT and Additional Protocol once the JCPOA was terminated. How can states overcome mistrust? This paper argues that the JCPOA must continue to resolve the issue of mistrust Continuing the JCPOA may contain the risk of Iran restarting its nuclear ambition once the sunset clause expires. This is because Iran has to allow the IAEA access to its facilities as well as implement the Additional Protocol on a provisional basis in return for incentives. Thus JCPOA will serve as a regulatory control regardless of states' mistrust. Fostering trust and building confidence will only come once Iran displays results of implementation.