Iran–United States relations after 1979

Iran–United States relations

Iran	United States

Main article: Iran–United States relations

Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been embroiled in tense relations with the U.S. and its allies. ^{[1] [2]} Following the hostage crisis, both countries severed relations. ^[3] Since then, both countries have been involved in numerous direct confrontations, diplomatic incidents, and proxy wars throughout the Middle East, which has caused the tense nature of the relationship between the two to be called an 'international crisis'. Both countries have often accused each other of breaking international law on several occasions. The U.S. has often accused Iran of sponsoring terrorism and of illegally maintaining a nuclear program, as well as using strong rhetoric against Israel, of which Iran has questioned its legitimacy and its right to exist while supporting Hamas, an antizionist militant group in the Gaza Strip. ^{[4] [5] [6] [7]} Meanwhile, Iran has often accused the U.S. of human rights violations and of meddling in their affairs, especially within the Iranian Democracy Movement. ^{[8] [9] [10]}

Both countries have been in conflicts in Syria, ^{[11] [12] [13]} Iraq, ^{[14] [15]} Yemen, ^{[16] [17] [18] [19]} and Afghanistan, ^{[20] [21] [22]} supporting opposite sides and conducting operations against each other. Both countries have also to the brink of war in situations as in the Tanker War ^[23] and the Persian Gulf Crisis, ^[24] both of which exacerbated tensions between the two. This has caused the United States and Israel to refuse to exclude the use of force to stop Iran, although they have always stressed that they consider the use of force as a last resort. ^{[25] [26]}

As a result of tensions the United States has taken the opportunity to broker negotiations and alliances between Israel and Arab States, some of which have viewed Iran with antagonistic ambitions. ^{[27] [28]} These countries have similar views to Iran and have often cooperated with each other to achieve their goals.

History of direct conflict

During the Iraq–Iran war

Main article: Tanker War

During the Iraq War

Main article: Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)

K-1 Air Base attack and aftermath

Main article: Iran–United States relations during the first Trump administration § K-1 Air Base attack and aftermath

Assassination of Qasem Soleimani and aftermath

Main articles: Iran–United States relations § Assassination of Qasem Soleimani and aftermath, and Iran–United States relations during the first Trump administration § Aftermath of Soleimani's assassination

During the Syrian civil war

Main article: American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war

History of proxy warfare

The United States and Iran have used proxy warfare throughout the Middle East and the Arab World since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Points of contention

Iranian nuclear program

Main article: Views on the nuclear program of Iran

Sanctions against Iran

Main article: United States sanctions against Iran

See also: Sanctions against Iran

Since the 1979 revolution in Iran, the country has been under constant US unilateral sanctions. The first U.S. sanctions against Iran were formalized in November 1979, and during the hostage crisis, many sanctions were leveled against the Iranian government. By 1987 the import of Iranian goods into the United States had been banned. In 1995, President Clinton issued Executive Order 12957, banning U.S. investment in Iran's energy sector, followed a few weeks later by Executive Order 12959 of May 9, 1995, eliminating all trade and investment and virtually all interaction between the United States and Iran. For details of current US sanctions, see the page of US Treasury Archived 2010-12-03 at the Wayback Machine .

Iran and the United States have had no formal diplomatic relations since April 7, 1980. Instead, Pakistan serves as Iran's protecting power in the United States, while Switzerland serves as the United States' protecting power in Iran. Contacts are carried out through the Iranian Interests Section of the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, D.C., ^[29] and the US Interests Section of the Swiss Embassy in Tehran. In August 2018, Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei banned direct talks with the United States. ^[30]

The United States have not been followed yet by other countries. But the UN sanctions are the first international sanctions levied on Iran. The United States is pushing for more economic sanctions against Iran. ^[31] Under a proposal by Germany, which holds the EU presidency during the first semester of 2007, the European Union is also considering imposing sanctions that go beyond the UN sanctions ^[32] but has not made any decision yet.

In June 2007 leading EU countries including Britain, France and Germany cautioned Iran that it faces further sanctions for expanding uranium enrichment and curbing U.N. inspectors' access to its nuclear program. "Iran continues to ignore its obligations and has not taken any steps to build confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its program". Additionally, the EU offers Iran suspension of sanctions and a package of trade and industrial benefits if it suspends its nuclear program. ^[33]

The Iran Sanctions Enhancement Act of 2007 introduced by Representatives Mark Kirk and Rob Andrews would've threatened sanctions against any company or individual that provided Iran with refined petroleum products or engaged in an activity that could have contributed to the enhancement of Iran's ability to import refined products after 31 December 2007. The bill could have led to sanctions against gasoline brokers, tankers and insurers, ^[34] but never passed.

On September 22, 2022, the United States Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against the Iran Morality Police as well as seven senior leaders of Iran's various security organizations, "for violence against protestors and the death of Mahsa Amini". These include Mohammad Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi, chief of Iran’s Morality Police, and Kioumars Heidari, commander of the Iranian army's ground force, in addition to the Iranian Minister of Intelligence Esmail Khatib, Haj Ahmad Mirzaei, head of the Tehran division of the Morality Police, Salar Abnoush, deputy commander of the Basij militia, and two law enforcement commanders, Manouchehr Amanollahi and Qasem Rezaei of the LEF in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province of Iran. The sanctions would involve blocking any properties or interests in property within the jurisdiction of the US, and reporting them to the US Treasury. Penalties would be imposed on any parties that facilitate transactions or services to the sanctioned entities. ^{[35] [36] [37]}

See also

• Iran portal

• Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict
• Iran–Israel proxy conflict
• Iran–Israel relations
• Iran–Saudi Arabia relations
• Anti-Iranian sentiment
• Energy policy of the United States
• iBRIDGES
• Iran Sanctions Enhancement Act of 2007
• United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747
• Iran Action Group

References

1. "How the Trump administration got into a showdown with Iran that could lead to war". Business Insider. 25 May 2019. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
2. "The Tension Between America and Iran, Explained". The New York Times. 16 May 2019. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
3. "Carter Cuts Ties with Iran". The Harvard Crimson. April 8, 1980. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
4. Derakhshi, Reza. "Iran accuses Israel of". U.K. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
5. "Iran Helped Plot Attack on Israel Over Several Weeks". The Wall Street Journal. October 2023. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
6. "Hamas Says Attacks on Israel Were Backed by Iran". The Wall Street Journal. October 2023. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
7. "Iran's UN mission says Tehran not involved in Hamas attacks". Reuters. 9 October 2023. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
8. Motamedi, Maziar (3 October 2022). "Iran's Khamenei blames Israel, US in first comments on protests". Aljazeera. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
9. Tisdall, Simon (8 October 2022). "Iran's brave young women must break their own chains. The west won't help". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
10. "McClintock Introduced House Resolution With Over 160 Co-sponsors in Support of a Free, Democratic, and Secular Republic in Iran". Congressman Tom McClintock. 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2023-03-13.
11. U.S. troops come under fire in Syria after strikes against Iran-backed militias Archived 2021-10-13 at the Wayback Machine Reuters
12. Iran’s role in the attack on U.S. troops in Syria signals new escalation The Washington Post
13. "Officials: Iran behind drone attack on US base in Syria". Al Jazeera.
14. US-Iran proxy war rages back to life in Iraq Archived 2022-12-11 at the Wayback Machine Stimson Research
15. Arraf, Jane (June 28, 2021). "Iraq Is Caught in the Middle as U.S. and Iran Spar on Its Soil". The New York Times– via NYTimes.com.
16. "U.S. carrier moving off the coast of Yemen to block Iranian arms shipments" Archived 2019-12-25 at the Wayback Machine . USA Today. 20 April 2015.
17. "Yemen crisis: Why is there a war?". BBC News. 21 March 2019. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
18. Biden pledges US support against Houthi attacks to Saudi king Archived 2022-02-10 at the Wayback Machine Al Jazeera
19. ‘Bullet in the head’: Battle for Yemen key to Iran-US tension Archived 2023-04-01 at the Wayback Machine Al Jazeera
20. "Could Afghanistan be the stage for US-Iran conflict?". Archived from the original on January 8, 2020. If Tehran pursues further retaliation for the US strike on a top commander, its neighbour to the east is an easy mark.
21. Fassihi, Farnaz (26 October 2021). "Iran Wanted U.S. Out of Afghanistan. It May Be Sorry the Wish Came True". The New York Times . Iran is glad the Americans are gone, but the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan creates a host of problems for Tehran, with no easy solutions.
22. "Iran expands Taliban support, targets U.S. troops in Afghanistan". The Washington Times.
23. The Iran–Iraq War: The Politics of Aggression By Farhang Rajaee University Press of Florida
24. "U.S.-Iran Conflict and Implications for U.S. Policy : Updated May 8, 2020" (PDF). Fas.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
25. "Backing 'every' option against Iran, Blinken appears to nod at military action". The Times of Israel. October 14, 2021. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
26. "Blinken Declines to Rule Out Military Option Should Iran Nuclear Talks Fail". Haaretz. October 31, 2021. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
27. "Gantz: Israel is building a Middle East air defense alliance against Iran". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 11 July 2022. Defense minister hints at report on US-led talks between Israel, Saudi Arabia, and others to counter Tehran's missiles and drones; stresses opposition to 'bad nuclear deal'
28. Israel announces regional air defense network with Middle East partners, US Archived 2023-03-02 at the Wayback Machine Breaking Defense
29. "Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran". June 26, 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-06-26.
30. "Iran's Khamenei bans holding direct talks with United States: TV". Reuters. 13 August 2018. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
31. "The Plan for Economic Strangulation of Iran". payvand.com. Archived from the original on 2007-04-10. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
32. "Germany proposes wider Iran sanctions". Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
33. "Iran faces more sanctions over nuclear advances: EU". Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
34. "Platts". Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
35. Gottbrath, Laurin-Whitney (2022-09-22). "U.S. sanctions Iran's morality police over death of woman in custody". Axios. Archived from the original on 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
36. "Treasury Sanctions Iran's Morality Police and Senior Security Officials for Violence Against Protesters and the Death of Mahsa Amini". United States Department of the Treasury . 22 September 2022. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
37. "Designating Iran's Morality Police and Seven Officials for Human Rights Abuses in Iran". United States Department of State . 22 September 2022. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2023.