She Was an Architect of Obama’s Iran Nuclear Deal. Now She’s Watching Trump’s War in Horror.
Wendy Sherman, a key architect of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal under the Obama administration, reflects on the diplomatic achievement amid the current escalation of U.S.-Iran tensions under President Trump. The deal, once seen as a landmark in peaceful diplomacy, has been dismantled, marking a shift from negotiation to confrontation. The article contrasts the hopeful tone of past diplomatic efforts with the current reality of conflict and lost progress.
- ▪Wendy Sherman led the U.S. delegation in negotiating the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and spoke emotionally about its significance at a State Department conference shortly after its completion.
- ▪The Iran nuclear deal was dismantled during Donald Trump's first term, marking a reversal of Obama-era diplomatic policies.
- ▪John Kerry, then Secretary of State, shared a personal story about his Vietnam War experience during the closing moments of the negotiations, emphasizing a commitment to avoiding future wars.
- ▪The article was published on May 1, 2026, and references a shift in U.S. foreign policy under two Trump presidencies.
- ▪Other Obama-era diplomatic achievements, such as the arms-control treaty with Russia and the detente with Cuba, have also been undone.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Politics To Fully Appreciate What Trump’s Iran War Has Squandered, You Have to Go Back 11 Years Wendy Sherman was there at a moment when peace between Iran and the U.S. seemed possible. Now she reflects on all that’s been lost. By Ian Prasad Philbrick May 01, 20265:45 AM Demonstrators outside the Iraq Embassy in Tehran protesting the U.S.–Israeli war with Iran. Majid Saeedi/Getty Images Copy Link Share Share Comment Copy Link Share Share Comment Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Wendy Sherman was on the verge of tears. It was July 2015, and Sherman, then a top Obama administration official at the State Department, had just stepped up to a lectern in a drab conference room.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Slate Magazine.
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