The joint comprehensive plan of action (JCPOA) more commonly referred to as the Iran Nuclear Deal, is a significant agreement that helped advance global security, peace and nuclear nonproliferation. Despite decades of mutual enmity, the U.S. and Iran reached a historic deal that averted another disastrous conflict in the Middle East. Even before President Biden took office in 2021, peace advocates were urging the United States to rejoin the deal, and have continued to call on the administration to reverse the reckless policies of former President Trump, who abandoned the deal in 2018, brought the U.S. to the brink of war with Iran, and imposed devastating sanctions during a global pandemic.

Our featured speaker Dr. Assal Rad, has a PhD in Middle Eastern History from the University of California, Irvine. Her Doctorate focused on Modern Iran, with an emphasis on national identity formation and popular culture in post-revolutionary Iran. Assal joined as a Senior Fellow of the National Iranian American Council in 2019, where she works on research and writing related to Iran policy issues and U.S. - Iran relations. Her writing can be seen in Newsweek, the National Interest, The Independent, Foreign Policy, Mondoweiss, and more. She has appeared as a commentator on BBC World, BBC Persian, Al Jazeera, NPR and others. Follow her on Twitter: @AssalRad

Join us for this important  discussion on the history and state of U.S. - Iran relations, the status of the nuclear deal, and the hopeful path toward peace.