West Asia in the Shadow of the Trump Administration and Iran's Nuclear Program

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

10.22099/ijas.2025.51851.1020

Abstract

The international system has faced more complex challenges and geopolitical shifts during the 21st century than at any other time, and this has been particularly significant for Asia. A combination of factors—such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the escalating confrontation between China and the United States, the gradual rise of emerging powers like India, the increasing complexity of issues in West Asia (especially the crises in Gaza and Yemen), the emergence of a new government in Syria, the growing tensions between Iran and Israel, and numerous other developments—illustrates the region's fragile geopolitical landscape. Meanwhile, Trump's return to the political stage is expected to bring new changes to various regions of Asia. This raises the key question: How can the Trump administration's policy toward Iran's nuclear program during the 2017–2021 period be assessed, and based on this historical behavior, what direction might U.S. policy take in a new Trump era? The hypothesis proposed is that Trump’s unique strategic perceptions shaped his policy toward Iran’s nuclear program in both periods, emphasizing intensified systemic pressure, coalition-building, efforts to negotiate an agreement aligned with U.S. interests, and controlling political behavior—particularly concerning allied actors.

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References

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Iranian Journal of Asian Studies
Volume 1, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
January 2025
Pages 53-86

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