Iran Strikes Deal with the West on Its Nuclear Program

Article: Iran and the major Western powers struck a deal yesterday in Switzerland that the West will ease crippling economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for Iran stopping its nuclear enrichment and not rushing to develop atomic weapons. The major powers are excited and hopeful that diplomacy has worked to contain Iran and avoid war; Israel is highly skeptical, saying that the deal gives Iran everything it wants--easing of sanctions and preservation of the most substantial parts of its nuclear program. The deal takes no steps to force Iran to ship out or destroy the nearly 20,000 centrifuge machines it has creates to produce nuclear fuel.

Discussion

• Do you think this deal will succeed in stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons? 
• Why is Israel and the West scared if Iran should develop nuclear weapons?
• What does diplomacy mean? How has it theoretically "worked" here? 
• What do sanctions mean? Why is Iran desperate to lift them? 
• In 6 months or a year, what do you think will happen?