article_snippet: In 2013, tensions between the world powers and Iran began to thaw a bit after the election of reformist Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who pledged to end the crippling weight of international sanctions on Iran's economy.
article_snippet: The deal was heralded as an interim step toward a larger, more comprehensive agreement, which would further lessen the economic pressure on Iran and give the six world powers -- referred to collectively as the P5+1 -- certain assurances that its nuclear program is peaceful in nature, as its nuclear program claims.
article_snippet: For Iran, a major sticking point is the pace of sanctions relief.
article_snippet: both sides want the international community to lift all U.N. sanctions at the beginning of that comprehensive agreement, whereas the P5+1 powers would rather see those sanctions phased out as Iran demonstrates Iran commitment to the deal.
article_snippet: Iran also wants a high cap on the number of centrifuges and other nuclear hardware
article_snippet: Iran can continue to operate, and for the restrictions imposed on Iran in the deal to last only a short period of time.
article_snippet: This platform is diametrically opposed to the P5+1 powers+1 position: that Iran should maintain a relatively small nuclear infrastructure and that the moratorium on Iran's nuclear activities should last at least a decade.
article_snippet: And of critical importance, particularly to the United States, is the insistence that Iran be held to a minimum one-year "breakout time" -- a technical terms reflecting the amount of time it would take for Iran to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon if Iran decides to walk away from the agreement.
article_snippet: The United States would prefer a written accord, but Iran has balked at putting anything in writing until a comprehensive deal is reached.
article_snippet: And there are those who fear that a nuclear agreement will spur other countries in the region to develop nuclear programs -- a means of deterring Iran if Iran decides to restart the military dimensions of Iran newly legitimized nuclear program.
article_snippet: But there are also stakeholders in the international community that would welcome the opportunity to trade freely with Iran once sanctions are eased, giving stakeholders in the international community that would welcome the opportunity to trade freely with Iran once sanctions are eased access to vast Iranian markets.