The reimposition of economic sanctions following the 2015 nuclear deal directly impacted Iran's economy, seemingly causing it to shrink 9.5 percent in 2019.  Following the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, and Iran's retaliatory strike on a U.S. Army base in Baghdad, Trump increased sanctions substantially.  This, in turn, limits Iran's ability to fight back against the targeted killing of Soleimani.  The Situation in Iran Iran, an already isolated country, is increasingly becoming an outlier in the international community.  Iran is a country where clerical and civil leaders are usually at odds with one another, and the conflict ultimately affects ordinary Iranians.  Generally, clerical leaders like Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are faithful to the 1979 Islamic revolution, and civil leaders like President Hassan Rouhani favor a slightly more progressive path. Internationally, Iran has been something of a...(Read Full Post)