It has been one year since Iran, the United States and five other world powers reached a landmark deal designed to limit Tehran's nuclear program. In exchange for curbs on its nuclear program, the United Nations lifted all nuclear-related sanctions against Iran, and the EU lifted many bilateral sanctions on Iran's banking and energy sectors.

But Iran's economy continues to suffer. For Iran, the deal was the first step toward economic recovery after years of crippling sanctions. Instead, because of unilateral U.S. sanctions on the Iranian economy, Tehran finds itself in the awkward position of having to rely on the United States to lobby other countries and non-American financial institutions to conduct business with it.

Iran's political elite have become anxious. Hardliners feel that President Hassan Rouhani's reform-minded administration was duped into accepting concessions on Iran's nuclear program while getting little back in return. Rouhani backers who believed the nuclear deal would usher a new era of economic prosperity have become despondent. With Iranian presidential elections looming next year, the wisdom of the nuclear deal and further dealings with the West will be front and center in the psyche of the Iranian electorate.