Iran/U.S. Political History

Abstract

It is not uncommon for books on U.S./Iran relations to begin by recounting key time periods in their history It is critically important for establishing the context of the current climate of distrust and animosity in the relationship. Understanding each side’s perceptions about events at key points in time provides insights into each country’s perspective on their ongoing diplomatic and political engagement. It is not the goal of this chapter to provide a comprehensive recounting of the history of the relationship. Instead, the chapter will provide an abbreviated discussion that highlights key points of divergence of perspective and their impacts on past and future U.S. foreign policy—making. This admittedly limited coverage of the history of the relationship is appropriate given the focus of this book on developing future policy recommendations rather than a comprehensive historical account.