The lifting of sanctions against Iran is now officially under way, ushering in a new era that could redraw alliances. But this nuclear agreement coupled with a prisoner swap was immediately followed by fresh US sanctions over Iran's ballistic missile programme. Hardliners on both sides are staking their turf ahead of US presidential elections and the vote for Iran's influential Guardian Council, and oil remains a factor as the price war with Saudi Arabia has the price of crude plummeting.

Produced by Charles Wente, François Wibaux, Diaraye Bah and Julia Dorner.

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