Topics:

"U.S. Withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Deal and the Reimposition of Sanctions"

and

"The Assassination of Qasem Soleimani and the Escalation of U.S.–Iran Tensions"

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Topic Summary: 

Topic A:

The United States withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) back in 2018 and had begun imposing sanctions on Iran once more. Said sanctions target Iran’s oil, banking, and trade sectors, which include penalties on forging companies. Iran has reduced its compliance with the deal and has expanded its nuclear activities in response to the United States actions. This situation raises the question: what combination of targeted sanctions, diplomatic negotiations, and IAEA inspections could encourage Iran to limit its nuclear activities while ensuring that all parties follow the agreement? Finding a balance between pressure and cooperation may be necessary to achieve lasting nuclear security.
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Topic B:

January 2020 is when Iranian General Qasem Soleimani was killed by the United States in a drone strike in Iraq. With missiles, Iran's retaliation attacks on U.S. bases raised fears of a greater war possibly rising. The assassination has increased hostility between both countries and has made diplomatic negotiations more difficult by encouraging backlash between the countries involved and reducing trust. The international community must take into account the use of force restrictions, explicit guidelines for self-defense, and UN Security Council approval or supervision in order to stop such escalations. As both sides seek to avoid all-out conflict, what rules or mechanisms should govern targeted strikes to prevent future escalations?