Prior to the revolution the US had very close relations with the Shah's regime as the Shah's economic and political policies in the Middle East region were pro- western, and even more specifically pro – American. The presence of the Shah as a pro western element was so important to Western governments that they overthrew the democratically elected regime of Mosadeq who replaced the Shah in the early 1950s. Shah's closeness with the west and specifically with the US were based on a number of reasons including his fear of expanding Soviet influence in the region and his concerns regarding the spread of Islamic fundamentalism. Therefore as such concerns were also shared by Washington, as a result both sides found many common areas of interest. On the Iranian side areas of co-operation with the US were secure supply of Iranian oil to the US economy, provision of secure access to US civilian and military shipping in the Persian Gulf. Iran also allowed the US to install number of military bases on Iran's northern border with the Soviet Union. The bases in question were used to eavesdrop on Soviet activities across the border. The US in return provided Shah's regime with sophisticated Western weaponry as well as training for Iran's armed and security forces. The weaponry allowed the Shah to carryout his policy of making Iran a major military force in the area, thus enabling the Shah to withstand any Soviet or Arab plans against Iran's interests.

Additionally a large number of US companies invested in Iran's booming oil rich economy, so much so that in some sectors of the Iranian economy US companies had almost complete monopoly due to America's large influence in Iran. Relations between the two countries were further strengthened owing to large number of Iranian students and citizens living in the US. The Iranian revolution brought a major change for the worst in the relations between the two countries. This was due to the fact that Ayatollah Khomeini's fundamentalist regime held America directly responsible for the reign of the”evil” Shah in Iran. America was also blamed as perpetrator of selfish acts against the interest of Muslims worldwide, thus dubbing Washington with the term the “Great Satan”. The new regime's hostility towards the US increased even further after the Iraqi invasion of Iran during which the US provided indirect political and military support to the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein. The accidental shooting of an Iranian airliner by US ships in the Persian Gulf in 1988 worsened relations between the two countries. Ayatollah Khomeini's hostility against the US were manifested in the overtake of the US embassy in Tehran. This act infuriated the US especially the Carter administration. Even after the hostages were released the new Iranian regime continued to be a thorn in America's side in the region.

Acts such as support for Anti – US forces in Lebanon, support of other anti US regimes in the region such as that of Syria and Libya, support of Anti US and Anti Israel Palestinian groups as well as direct attack against US shipping in the Persian Gulf region during the late 1980s were all sponsored by the new Islamic regime in Tehran. America's response to such acts were imposition of economic embargo against Iran and support of the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein. Furthermore the US also provided support to other regimes in the region such as those of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia who viewed the Ayatollah's regime as a threat against their security and interests. America also carried out direct military attacks against Iran on a number of occasions. First occasion was the failed commando operation in 1980 to save the US hostages. Again in 1987 and 1988 US aircraft bombed Iranian oil installations in the Persian Gulf as response to attacks carried out against US shipping in the region by Iran. It is interesting to note that despite the Anti-American rhetoric Ayatollah's regime in Iran also cooperated with the US covertly on a number of occasions. One of the most notable occasions was the purchase of US made weaponry from Israel which was done with full US cooperation and involvement. The purchase was made despite an official US government imposed embargo against sale of weapons to Iran.

The dealings were even more interesting as the Ayatollah's regime proclaimed itself as an implacable enemy of Israel and despite that it paid Jerusalem in cash for the purchase of the weapons. This affair which later became known as “Iran gate” caused a sensation in international press and in Washington. Furthermore both sides co-operated covertly during the US military campaign against the Taleban regime in Afghanistan. According to reports Iran provided overfly rights to US aircraft over its territory as well as access to pro Iranian Northern Alliance Afghan forces. Relations between Iran and the US continue to be affected by absence of diplomatic relations, and the Bush Administration labeling of Iran as a member of “Axis of evil” due to its support for anti American forces. Furthermore allegations regarding Iran's intentions to develop nuclear capability have lead to further deterioration in relations as the US views Iran's nuclear ambitions as a direct and present threat against its interests and that of its allies in the region.

By: Meir Javedanfar

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