Iran Faces International Pressure Over Nuclear Program

Iran's rulers continue a decades-long approach to foreign policy shaped by the 1988 ceasefire with Iraq. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini accepted the truce after concluding that continued fighting endangered the Islamic Republic.

Khomeini publicly described the decision as drinking from a chalice of poison. He made the statement because ongoing war threatened regime survival rather than any shift toward peaceful coexistence. Nearly four decades later, Iran's current leadership follows similar calculations in dealings with outside powers. The approach prioritizes regime preservation over diplomatic engagement.

Iran's nuclear program remains a focal point of international concern. External actors continue efforts to limit Tehran's room for maneuver on nuclear issues.