I am not sure I know the answer...But
negotiating with terrorists isn't it. And BTW was it not Obama who stated "I will not negotiate with terrorists"? That policy must have changed.
I think you can be assured the sanctions were working and probably the only thing that had the Peace loving (Death to all Israeli's and American's) muslims at the negotiating table to start with.
Are you really trying to compare the Psychotic beliefs and desires of the Peace Loving Jihadists with the Soviet Union?
Oh and check out the last paragraph of the article I posted. It states in spite of Kennedy's efforts in the sixties and the hard line we took with the Russians, within a few years they eclipsed the US in numbers of Nuc's (from a huge deficit fwiw).
But back to your original Q.
Not sure I know what the answer is....
BUT putting in the hands of.....providing the funding....the path......the way and means for the Planets most heinous terrorist country to DO what they wish (at every possible juncture state...Death to the West....Death to all Americans...Death to all Israeli's) seems like the height of insanity.
Oh wait, I promise we'll be good........--Iran
Iranian Leader Encourages 'Death to America' Chants After Nuclear Deal :: The Investigative Project on Terrorism
Iranian leader Ali Khamanei reiterated the "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" slogans and called the United States a state sponsor of terrorism in two public addresses marking the conclusion of the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, the Middle East Monitoring and Research Institute (MEMRI) reports.
Last week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani claimed that the world superpowers recognized a nuclear Iran immediately after the announcement of a deal regarding Iran's nuclear weapons program. He also boasted that Iran will maintain over 6,000 centrifuges.
It is important to emphasize that issues related to Iran's human rights record and global sponsorship of terrorism were not part of the negotiations. Many experts and critics of the deal believe that sanction relief and the lifting of weapons embargoes will enable the Islamic Republic to enhance its regional hegemonic ambitions and international terrorist activity.