On July 17, 2017, the U.S. State Department certified that Iran continues to meet the conditions of the Iran nuclear agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. As a result, for the next 90 days, the United States will maintain significant reductions in its sanctions against Iran as provided in the JCPOA. Among other things, those provisions allow non-U.S. companies to do business in Iran. The State Department's action signals that for now, State believes that the JCPOA is the right U.S. policy toward Iran.

However, it is not clear that the President agrees. In the past, President Trump has called the JCPOA a "disaster," and "the worst deal ever negotiated." Nor does the President seem to have forgotten his antipathy for the agreement. Just last week, he told the Wall Street Journal that he "would be surprised" if Iran were in compliance when the next review is conducted in 90 days. Supporting that statement with action, the President has now reportedly formed a new group of officials – less experienced and lower ranking than those previously tasked with the review – to advise him before the next review and certification. We may dub this approach the "Shallow State."

News analysis indicates that the Trump Administration is actively seeking to undo the JCPOA. The Administration has called for increased inspections in Iran by the IAEA. Additionally, the former White House Press Secretary stated that during the G-20 meeting in July, President Trump affirmatively called on U.S. allies to stop doing business with Iran.[1] Finally, the White House, along with congress, has steadily increased sanctions on Iran for reasons other than Iran's nuclear program.

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