Once upon a time in America

The History of Iran-US relationship

        A teenager from the new generation would believe that Iran and US have had hostile relationships forever. But it is not true. There were certainly times when these two countries were even partners in some international scenes of diplomacy. This is a look at the history of relationship between Iran and the USA which can be resembled to some romantic love affair!.

        Pink flirting days: The relationship between the two countries dates back to the 19th century when the Americans provided medical & educational services to Iranians. First American religious missionaries started coming in 1832.  In December of the year 1856 the first official document which was a friendship treaty covering trade and mutual relations was signed between the two countries. In 1883 embassies were opened in both countries. In January 1883 William Benjamin came to Tehran as the special envoy to present the letter from the president of the United States to Naseroldin Shah. 5 years later, the first Iranian ambassador named 'Haj Hossein Gholi Khan Nouri' went to Washington. Cooperations between the two countries were on the rise when in 1911 the Majlis (Iranian Parliament) voted to employ American experts in the Maliye (Ministry of Finance). Morgan Shuster along with 16 others arrived in Tehran in order to regulate the ministry. These relations must have started jeopardizing the benefits of the Russian and the British which had high influence among Iranian authorities.

        Therefore Russians did not hesitate to issue an ultimatum with 3 items. The Iranian state was given 48 hours deadline to agree with these items ; Deportation of Shuster, Employing foreigners only with permission from Russia and Britain, and Compensation of all costs incurred because of mobilization of the Russian army! Iran's King which was only the puppet of these foreign states had no other way but to obey their orders   Later to conciliate the Americans , the US company of Standard Oil was offered rights to explore oil in the regions of Azarbaijan, Gorgan, Mazandaran, Gilan and Khorasan. During the period between the World War I & II, Americans tried to improve their situation in Iran specially in terms of economy. In 1923 Majlis approved a loan in the amount of 35 million dollars from the US.

        Rainy Days of hate: In 1923 and 1927 two incidents made the relations a bit cloudy. First, one of the employees of the US embassy was assassinated in Bazaar and second was the cancellation of Capitulation Agreement by Reza Shah. Capitulation as termed in Iran provided some foreign state citizens immunity from being prosecuted for any crimes in Iran. In 1941 Iran was occupied by the Allies and Reza Shah who had supported Germany was in deep trouble. He was later deported to Morris Island and his son became the new puppet king. First American military missionaries started gaining superior status after Roosevelt came to Tehran to meet with Stalin & Churchill. In 1949, The newly installed Shah, on a two day visit traveled to the US and met with Truman. A Defense aid agreement was signed between representatives of the two states.

        In 1952 the Iranian Majlis voted for the Nationalization of oil and Mossadegh became prime minister. This meant an end to the British hegemony The greatest shock that made the British drop the adjective Great from Britain.  The US government declared unwillingness to help Iran in this independence war and Mossadegh declared discontinuation of Iran-Britain diplomatic relations in 1953. During the same year a CIA backed coup d'etat toppled Mossadegh's regime. Shah who had fled the country returned to power and this happening in front of all Iranians eyes changed the course of mutual relationships with the US forever. During the next 26 years of despot regime a dictatorship regime resembling that of Pinochet in Chile took place in Iran. The US created economic strongholds in Iran and gave Iran the role of gendarme of the region. Naturally Iran's Shah had great relationships with US presidents such as Nixon, Eisenhower, Kennedy. During his reign Iran's revenue from oil sales rose sharply most of which was spend on military budgets serving the American arms industry.

        US press created an unreal image of Shah as a modern thinking, progressive leader. But in fact he was an 'unelected' puppet king that was widely hated by the people on the street. When in 1964 the Capitulation law was forcibly passed again in the Majlis that created popular discontent leaded by Ayatollah Khomeini. Civil unrest started in Qom and Tehran before he was arrested and sent to exile in Turkey, Iraq, then France. The prime minister Hasanali Mansour was assassinated in revenge to this disgraceful law by Mohammad Bokharayi. Until Jimmy Carter's presidency in 1976, the two states relationship was at top level. The US congress had passed a law that would allow sales of all kinds of high tech gadgets such as Jet Fighters and Iranian army officers were getting best trainings in US, Israel and NATO bases. But Carter had differences with Shah on these issues; observing human rights, increase in oil prices, and us of military weapons. Iran was the largest market for the US goods in the region as Carter asserted in an interview. The next 3 years Iran was pregnant with events that shook off West's most trusted site in the Middle East. (Learn More)

        Chilly Winter of divorce: In 1979, after months of street demonstrations a miracle called the Islamic revolution happened. Shah fled the country to the US. US embassy was shut down and a hostage crisis went on for 444 days. The Iraq war was imposed on the Iranians in 1980 and Iran's assets were blocked in the US. US also imposed an economic embargo and has been running on the same axis as Israel. The monster is unleashed! It's still soon to claim victory for either side. But looking at the world's globalization trend it's obvious that both countries are playing a lose-lose game thinking about the achievements that could have taken place otherwise. Well, every love that starts with such hot passion might end with divorce one day if the marriage is not based on respect and mutual interests. It's really hard to guess what would happen if on a Rainy night in November, Ms. Rice knocks the door with a Bouquet of yellow roses and says she's sorry. That would be a great sit-com on the Saturday Night Live!

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