Knowra Iran–United States relations Iran–United States relations Iran–United States relations are the political, diplomatic, economic, and security interactions between the two countries, marked by periods of cooperation, rupture, and sustained hostility.
1953 Iranian coup d'état : A 1953 coup in Iran, backed by the United States and Britain, ousted Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh and strengthened Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. It became a defining source of Iranian distrust of American intervention.
United States sanctions against Iran : Legal and economic restrictions imposed by the United States on Iranian entities, trade, and financial activity. Sanctions are Washington’s principal continuing instrument of pressure on Tehran.
Iran–Iraq War : A war between Iran and Iraq from 1980 to 1988 that caused extensive casualties and regional upheaval. U.S. support for Iraq during much of the war deepened Iranian suspicions.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi : Iran’s last shah, who ruled from 1941 until his overthrow in 1979. His close partnership with Washington defined U.S. policy before the revolution.
U.S.–Iran diplomatic relations : The formal diplomatic ties between the United States and Iran, severed in 1980 and not restored. Their absence channels communication through intermediaries and protecting powers.
Iranian Revolution : The 1979 revolution overthrew Iran’s monarchy and established the Islamic Republic. It ended the U.S.–Iran alliance and transformed bilateral relations.
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action : The 2015 nuclear agreement among Iran, the United States, and other powers, limiting Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. It was the most consequential negotiated attempt to constrain Iran’s nuclear program.
Operation Praying Mantis : A 1988 U.S. naval attack on Iranian forces and oil platforms in the Persian Gulf. It was the largest direct U.S. combat operation against Iran before 2020.
Ruhollah Khomeini : Iranian religious and political leader who led the 1979 revolution and became the Islamic Republic’s first supreme leader. His revolutionary government recast the United States as an adversary.
Iranian diaspora : Communities of Iranian origin living outside Iran, formed through migration across multiple periods. Revolution and strained ties helped shape migration and transnational family connections.
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