Paying ransom for the release of citizens incentivizes governments like Iran to take more Americans hostage. The case of Brittany Griner being traded for a Russian convicted of crimes highlights the issue of hostage-taking for political gain. The Iran nuclear deal's impact on improving relations between Iran and the United States is uncertain. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has noticed a decrease in interest from member states regarding Iran's nuclear escalation. The proximity talks initiated by the Biden Administration aimed to rejoin the nuclear deal but have not been successful so far. Grossi's role is to monitor and call attention to the risks associated with Iran's exceeding the limits of the nuclear agreement. The United States has been trying to gain cooperation and reduce tensions with Iran through informal talks hosted by Oman. A formal agreement has been elusive due to the terms Iran wants that the United States cannot accept. The IAEA has inspection rights in Iran under the 2015 nuclear deal. The effectiveness of the informal talks and the potential for reducing tensions remain uncertain.
