"One of the contentious debates surrounding the recent nuclear deal with Iran concerns whether or not U.S. negotiators should have demanded broader shifts in Iranian foreign policy before signing any agreement. Critics of the deal argue that by providing sanctions relief before Iran curtailed its support for Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthi rebels, and Bashar al-Assad, the United States effectively agreed to bankroll Iran's regional influence.
In response, the Obama administration has argued that by focusing on Iran's nuclear program, U.S. negotiators were better able to avoid war while containing the most threatening of Iran's ambitions—namely, its quest for nuclear weapons. This controversy raises a broader question: can U.S. agreements with nuclear-aspiring adversaries persist over the long term without a broader resolution of bilateral tensions?..."
Continue reading: http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/the-nuclear-deal-iran-isnt-enough-13634
Gerzhoy, Gene. “The Nuclear Deal with Iran Isn't Enough.” The National Interest, August 20, 2015