Tehran Releases UK's Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Could Be Step Towards JCPoA Deal

The Iranian gov't has released two British detainees, including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe - detained since April 2016 and whose case has drawn major media and political attention in the UK - potentially signalling a further step towards Iran and the P5+1 reaching a deal on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA, the Iran nuclear deal).

• The release of the two individuals comes as the potential of reaching a deal on the JCPoA could be within touching distance for Tehran and the nations involved in negotiations (China, France, Germany, Russia, UK) as well as the US. The release of these two will be see, especially in London, as a signal of good will from the Iranian side.
• There remain significant issues, in the short term relating to Russia's stance. Moscow has sought to tack on guarantees to the deal in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. Over the longer term, getting a new deal through the US Congress could prove a lengthy, and potentially impossible, effort.