Who Won: Are Gas Prices Worth More Than American Lives?

Many Americans are wondering who won the nuclear negotiations in light of the compromises made to achieve a deal with Iran. Considering the four Americans still captive, some argue whether it was America who won or not. It is clear, at least for the next decade, that Iran’s potential to manufacture nuclear weapons will be altogether stomped out, and the lifted sanctions will offer an opportunity for those who are interested in economic growth in America and Iran. For the delegates who won over Iran’s cooperation, the win for America, and the world, is obvious. However, those who thought the return of their loved ones detained in Iran hinged on the negotiations are feel abandoned.

According to the White House, who held a press conference on the specifics of the agreement, Iran’s uranium enrichment programs will be scaled back to the point they won’t have the ability to pursue nuclear weapons research for the next 10 years.

Banning nukes isn’t the only benefit to those who support the deal. Some feel it was the American and global economy that ultimately won. The LA Times reports that the economic growth potential from lifted sanctions has investors eagerly awaiting Iran’s follow through. Suzanne DiMaggio, director of the Iran Initiative at New America, was quoted as saying:

“Clearly there’s a lot of anticipation because Iran represents a great potential market for U.S. products and services.”

Companies will be vetting for the profit base that Iran’s 60 million new consumers would provide after sanctions are lifted. Out of Iran’s total population, 60% are highly educated, urban civilians under 30, who could be easily won over to buying American goods. CBS News reports that the deal will ensure lower oil costs, resulting in gas prices falling below $2 by December.

It would seem that, for now, the four Americans being held captive in Iran are collateral damage. This sentiment is held by some supporters of Saeed Abedini, a pastor who won over the hearts and sympathies of many since his detainment, torture, and prolonged isolation at the hand of Iranian police officials. His only crime was conversion from Islam to Christianity and helping others who were considering the Christian faith. For them and his family, the question remains if it was global peace or profit who won in the negotiations.

Pastor Saeed’s wife, Naghmeh Abedini, who has been in contact with Saeed for the last two years through his parents, wrote a statement to congress expressing her disappointment that negotiations had not won her husbands freedom.

“With the announcement of a deal and yet silence as to the fate of Saeed and the other Americans held hostage in Iran, their fate lies now in the hands of Congress.”

The White House asserted in a statement released to NBC that linking the two issues together would create further complications that would not play a part in who won the Americans’ freedom. President Obama, who responded directly to concerns and criticisms of the deal being struck without the release of American captives on the table, had this to say on the assertions that it weakens the “conscience” and “strength of this nation”:

“The notion that I am content, as I celebrate with American citizens languishing in Iranian jails, Major, that’s nonsense, and you should know better. I have met with the families of some of those folks. Nobody’s content, and our diplomats and our teams are working diligently to try to get them out. Now, if the question is why we did not tie the negotiations to their release, think about the logic that that creates. Suddenly Iran realizes, you know what, maybe we can get additional concessions out of the Americans by holding these individuals.”

He concluded by adding that the Americans freedom would be won despite negotiations:

“If we had walked away from the nuclear deal we would still be pushing them just as hard to get those folks out, that’s why those issues aren’t connected.”.

Politicians who don’t agree with the strategy of keeping the issues separate jumped on the opportunity to point out the exclusion of the Americans’ release within the agreement.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf in a press release refused to hang the captives’ freedom on who won negotiations, claiming that Iran may try to use them as pawns.

“We don’t want the fate of these Americans, whether they can be returned home, to be tied to nuclear negotiations that may not end up being successful. We want these Americans home with their families whether we get a nuclear agreement or not.”

It has been argued that the working relationship developed through the Iranian deal may have won Iran’s trust enough to consider releasing Pastor Saeed, who is facing charges that are religious in nature and have nothing to do with covert or spy operations. If Iran follows through on the nuclear deal, its relationship with the rest of the world may change forever. Many wonder if it’s everyone but America who won in this deal, but can there be a win-win?

(Photo by Getty Images)