As nuclear negotiations between Iran and a group of world powers resumed Wednesday, some observers say a less acrimonious future between the United States and Iran makes economic sense.

The Iranian economy has been severely hampered by eight years of escalating sanctions imposed over the country's nuclear ambitions. While a deal to ease sanctions would be transformative for Iran's economy, some see an agreement paving the way for an even greater prize: a first step toward the day when Iran and the United States become partners—at least on some level.

Trade between the United States and Iran is essentially prohibited, and no one expects a friendly relationship between the countries in the near term. But Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group, said he sees a structural shift underway as the United States becomes increasingly energy independent. Within 10 years, he said, he sees Iran becoming one of the United States' closest partners in the region.



"You ask me long term who the United States is likely to work with (in the Middle East), especially as the efficacy of American sanctions starts eroding globally, it's going to be be Iran long term," Bremmer recently told CNBC's "Squawk Box."

Iran has tremendous growth potential, thanks to one of the most diverse economies in the Middle East and a large middle class, experts say. Perhaps more importantly, U.S. interests in the region are shifting, which creates opportunities at a time when Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has appeared to encourage reconciliation with the outside world.



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In terms of potential markets for U.S. goods, Iran is the Middle East's second most populous country after Egypt, boasting a demand base of 77 million people, more than twice the population of either Saudi Arabia or Iraq.



China and the United Arab Emirates combined to contribute almost half of Iran's $18.3 billion in imports in the first quarter of 2014, according to the CIA World Factbook.

Many Iranians would prefer to do business with the West if given the chance, said Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, an economist at Virginia Tech. They believe the Western supply chain is more reliable than China's and want higher-quality raw materials and finished products than they get from the China, he said.

"Iran is a fairly natural ally for the United States, because what the Iranians want in terms of economic development and peaceful coexistence is what Americans want in the area," Salehi-Isfahani said.