In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—Goal 4: Quality Education and Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions—and in cooperation with the Department of Studies and Planning / Sustainable Development Unit at the Presidency of the University of Mosul, a master’s thesis entitled “The Change in the U.S. Strategy Toward Iran’s Nuclear Program (2015–2025)” was defended at the College of Political Science. The thesis was submitted by Mr. Abdulrahman Anwar Obeid Al-Shammari on Thursday, July 30, 2026.

The thesis examined the changes in the U.S. strategy toward Iran’s nuclear program during the period 2015–2025, focusing on analyzing and interpreting these changes, their outcomes, their implications for the Iranian domestic reality, and their impact on the regional level and the balance of influence in the Middle East.

The study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of the successive U.S. administrations’ strategies—Obama, Trump’s first administration, Biden, and Trump’s second administration—all of which agreed on the seriousness of Iran’s nuclear program and sought to achieve deterrence and contain threats affecting the flow of global strategic interests.

The thesis concluded that while the United States’ strategic objective of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities has remained constant, the tools employed have changed. It also found that the use of smart power, combining pressure and diplomacy, has failed to end Iran’s nuclear ambitions; instead, it has enabled Iran to adapt and endure, creating a new reality that is reshaping the regional balance of power.

The examination committee consisted of Prof. Dr. Adel Abdulhamza Thujeil (Chair), Asst. Prof. Dr. Rafea Shareef Thunoon (Member), Asst. Prof. Dr. Younis Muayyad Younis (Member), Prof. Dr. Hazim Hamad Mousa (Member and Supervisor), and Lect. Dr. Firas Mohammed Ahmed (Member and Co-Supervisor).

Part of the defense was attended by the Dean of the College, Asst. Prof. Dr. Suhaib Khalid Jasim Al-Taie, the Assistant Dean for Scientific Affairs, Asst. Prof. Dr. Khair Allah Subhan Al-Jubouri, the Assistant Dean for Administrative Affairs, Asst. Prof. Dr. Ali Hussein Yaseen, in addition to a number of postgraduate students.

Following the defense, the committee announced its decision to approve the thesis subject to the required revisions and to award the candidate the Master’s degree.