U.S. Imperialism Shapes Two Centuries of Iran-U.S. Relations, Says Historian

The Iran-U.S. relationship is deeply rooted in two centuries of interactions.

“The Middle East is witnessing an unprecedented escalation in the pace of the confrontation between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, amid divergent readings of the nature of the conflict and its goals”

Hespress

Afshin Matin-Asgari's book traces this history back to early 19th-century American missionary efforts.

Hespress

The turning point came during World War II when the U.S. became a major player in Iran.

The 1953 CIA coup set the stage for decades of asymmetrical relations.

Matin-Asgari argues that Iran-U.S. relations must be understood in an imperialist context.

The 1979 Islamic Revolution upended this dynamic, with Khomeini declaring the U.S. the Great Satan.

The post-revolution period was marked by escalating hostility.

The 1990s brought no serious openings, but a brief window emerged after 9/11.

Mondoweiss

Iran provided intelligence and logistical support for U.S. operations in Afghanistan.

Bush's Axis of Evil speech erased trust and closed the window of cooperation.

Khatami's 2003 proposal for direct negotiation was ignored.

Iranian officials emphasize a narrative of resistance against Western hegemonic behavior.

“According to EconomiNews, citing Iran Daily, the closing session of the conference 'Us and the West; in the views and thoughts of His Eminence Ayatollah Khamenei'—which had begun its research and studies in Aban of last year—was held yesterday at the IRIB International Conference Center with the presence and remarks by the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, university professors, researchers, and the intellectual and political elites”

اقتصادنیوز

Ali Larijani described Iran-West relations as among the most volatile international interactions.

He stressed that the nuclear issue was merely a pretext.

Tehran asserts it is not seeking nuclear weapons.

Regional experts warn that the conflict is reshaping the rules of the game in the Middle East.

Trump's decision to wage war on Iran contradicted his campaign rhetoric.

His attack came after withdrawing from the nuclear deal.

Al-Jazeera Net

Analysts noted that Trump presented conflicting objectives.

The killing of Supreme Leader Khamenei marked a new phase.

The war had immediate global economic repercussions.