According to Helga Kalm, a junior research fellow at the International Centre for Defence and Security, Tehran sacrificed its nuclear programme because a considerable part of the state’s assets and oil export had been frozen and, therefore, both Iran’s defence capability as well as achieving the goals of the state’s foreign policy in the Middle East had been considerably hindered.
According to Helga Kalm, a junior research fellow at the International Centre for Defence and Security, Tehran sacrificed its nuclear programme because a considerable part of the state’s assets and oil export had been frozen and, therefore, both Iran’s defence capability as well as achieving the goals of the state’s foreign policy in the Middle East had been considerably hindered.
Kalm agreed with the statement that Tehran sacrificed its nuclear ambitions because the state wanted to restore oil export and the income arising from it. “Another reason is also the fact that that their assets had been internationally frozen and now they could access them and, therefore, their state budget would increase by 100 billion dollars,” said Kalm in an interview to the programme Uudis+ on the radio station Vikerraadio.
According to Kalm, the Western countries hope that with lifting the economic sanctions and the improvement of living standards, Tehran’s politics will be increasingly influenced by the middle class who is less aggressive and has a more modern view on life. “In the end, this will lead to more positive changes in Iran’s domestic situation.” Nevertheless, Kalm claimed that such a change cannot be expected at once.
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