Top 10 Tensions between United State and Iran that Shook the World

The historical relationship between US and Iran can be traced back since the first formal action of diplomatic engagement and gratitude between the United States and the Kingdom of Persia (Iran), both are timeworn states. It’s happened on 1850, when U.S. Secretary of State John Middleton approved the American Minister Resident at Constantinople, George P. Marsh, to discuss a treaty of commerce and friendship with the Persian Chargé d’Affaires. 

Thereafter followed many raised tension on various issues, stated with the overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mossadeq on 1953 where the US support the overthrown operations and thereafter establish oil companies in Iran.  In 1979 was the establishment of Islamic Republic of Iran after overthrow ruling monarchy of Iran Mohammed Reza Pahlevi and the US granted him asylum.

In 1979 The US embassy in Tehran was detained and American hostages are detained inside for 444 days, and Iran Government was agreed to release the hostages after the US said it would unfreeze Iranian assets. Iranian accuses by US for developing a secretly nuclear weapons plants, which could be used to produce weapons, the Iran disagrees. 

The tension of Gulf rises after Iranian forces detained a foreign vessel with a crew in its territorial waters while US forced to free the vessel. Another is the scandal of US secretly make a transaction of weapons to Iran. Iran-US have a long history of tension as current is the assassination of Gen Qasem Soleimani the head of Iran's elite Quds Force by US drone strike.

        1.     US Embassy hostage crisis in Iran

The US embassy in Tehran was detained by protesters in November 1979 and American hostages are seized inside. The plan of rescue hostages as secret mission of President Carter was failed due to technical problem of American helicopter therefore eight American servicemen lost their lives as well as Iranian civilian.

Through the mediation of Algerian Government the Iran Government was agreed to release the hostages after the US said it would unfreeze Iranian assets in American and other banks, such as the Bank of England, as result of embassy detained. The hostages are held for 444 days, the final 52 hostages are delayed until January 1981, the day of US President Ronald Reagan's swearing.

Another six Americans who had escaped the embassy are smuggled out of Iran by a team posing as film-makers, in events dramatized in the Oscar-winning film Argo. In the end, the Iranian captors were forced to give way when the Shah died in exile in Egypt and Iran left CENTO and joined non-aligned countries, in that time Iraq attacked Iran.

        2.    Nuclear fears and threatened

In 2002 an Iranian opposition group exposes that Iran is developing nuclear facilities including a uranium fortification plant. Iranian accuses by US for developing a secretly nuclear weapons plants, which could be used to produce weapons, the Iran disagrees. 

A decade of diplomatic activity and sporadic Iranian arrangement with the UN's nuclear watchdog has pass through. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as the nuclear watchdog of the United Nations promotes the peaceful use of atomic energy by supervise or control and trying to ensure that the technology is not used in such a way as to further any military purposes.

But several rounds of sanctions are imposed by the UN, the USA and the EU against ultra-conservative president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government. This causes Iran's currency to lose two-thirds of its value in two years.

Following the IAEA report on June 2003, the UK, Germany and France introduce a joint diplomatic effort to address Iran’s nuclear policy, the US refused to be involved in the discussions.

        3.    The Gulf Crisis

In May 2018, US President Donald Trump cancels the nuclear deal, before restoring economic sanctions against Iran and threatening to do the same to countries and firms that continue buying its oil. Therefore it result into a deep recession Iran's economy. Relations between the US and Iran deteriorate. In response to that Iran begins a counter-pressure battle.

In May and June 2019, explosions hit six oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, the US blames Iran, tension rises after Iranian forces detained a foreign vessel with a crew in its territorial waters. USA State Department insisted that “Iran must free the ship and its crew and stop irritating vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the navigation in the water should be free”.

 On June, Iranian forces shoot down a US military drone at the Hormuz. The USA says it was over international waters, but Iran says it is over their territory. Tensions were further driven when Iran announced its stock of low-enriched uranium would next week exceed limits it agreed with world powers under a nuclear deal in 2015 . Also the Iran air force shot down an American spy drone that had violated Iranian airspace in the Kuh Mubarak region located at Hormozgan .

        4.    General Qasem Soleimani assassination

On 3 January 2020, Iran's top military commander, Gen Qasem Soleimani the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, is assassinated by a US drone strike in Iraq under the direction of the President Donald Trump in order to protect U.S. peoples abroad. General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region as His approval the plan to attack on US embassy in the first week of January 2020 .

Iran swears "severe revenge" for his death said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani rebounded the Supreme Leader's and pulls back from the 2015 nuclear harmony. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said "severe revenge awaits the criminals". He also announced three days of national remembrance. It was reported fifty people have been killed and more than 200 injured in a retreat as Iranians gathered for the burial Soleimani .

USA react against the statement of severe revenge, The President Donald Trump tweeted that the United States has targeted 52 Iranian potential sites that it would strike if Iran attacks Americans or U.S. assets in response to killed Iranian military commander. “The USA wants no more threats!”. 

US President Trump has address in televised from the White House, Iran appears to be standing down as for good things for all parties, after it fired guns at air bases housing US forces in Iraq as part of Iran revenge, no US or Iraqi lives were lost in the attacks and the bases hurt only minimal damage. But Iranian national television reported that 80 American soldier was killed on attacks. The tension of Middle East result the parliament of Iraqi votes to expel foreign troops, US and France refused to oust while Canada, German and NATO begin leaving in second week of January 2020.

        5.    Iran passenger plane shot down By American

The American warship USS Vincennes shoots down an Iran Air flight on 3 July 1988, killing all 290 people on board. The air flight was mistaken identified as fighter jet, US said. Most of the victims are Iranian hajjis on their way to Mecca. Iran was widely believed that the U.S. attack had been thoughtful, and Iranian authorities worried that it indicated the United States was planning to join forces with Iraq to fight against Iran.

That hypothesis was thought to have played a greater role in Iran’s decision to agree to a cease-fight with Iraq in August 1988. In May 1989 Iran filed a lawsuit against the United States at the International Court of Justice. 

As the case pulled on, a settlement was reached in 1996. The United States, which “expressed deep regret” for shooting down Iran Air flight 655, agreed to pay $61.8 million to the victims’ families, and Iran released its suit. President of the Court, on 22 February 1996, made an Order recording the discontinuance of the proceedings and directing the removal of the case from the Court’s List .    

        6.    Iran-Contra scandal

In the year of 1985-86 the US through National Security Council (NSC) involve secretly in transaction of weapons to Iran for its war against neighbouring Iraq, where it prohibited by U.S. Congress and violated state  policy. Apparently belief that such a sale would secure the release US hostages held by Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. 

The committee staff report issued 2012 indicate that IBC served as the channel through which millions of dollars from the illegal sales of weapon to Iran were attentive to use by the contras and other purposes , Later on Col. Oliver North and other Security official was accused for private raise funds for the Contra protestors relating to conspiracy and making false statements.

The portion of money profits obtained from sales of weapon are illegally directed to protestors in Nicaragua. After the issue reported in public it’s creating a political crisis for presidency of Ronald Reagan. After some weapons have been sold to Iran three of the seven hostages in Lebanon were also released, although the Iran-backed terrorist group there later took three more Americans hostage. After the affairs Sandinista government and the Contras, the Nicaraguan government attempted to make peace where by prohibit U.S. military bases and advisers in the region and it would require postponement of aid to the Contrast. 

        7 . ‘Axis of evil’ crime Statement

In 2002 his State of the Union address, President George Bush denounces Iran as part of an "axis of evil" with Iraq and North Korea. He address that the States poison gas to murder thousands of Iran citizens and develop nuclear weapons as well as support terrorist  like these, constitute an axis of evil, preparation to threaten the peace of the world. 

By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these rules pose a crucial and growing danger.  They could provide these arms to terrorists, giving them the means to match their hatred.  They could attack our followers or attempt to blackmail the United States.  In any of these cases, the price of indifference would be terrible.

The speech causes crime in Iran and was fated by activists as well as conservative, Iran government has formally opposed the incursion as illegal since the US flying over Iran to obtain intelligence on nuclear programs. Later on the US Administration reported that, was received a fax from the Iranian government contain upturned to US with the help of American Iranian Council, made a secret proposal for imposing bargain, which would resolve outstanding issues including Iran’s support non-state Armed group like Hamas and Hizbollah and  nuclear program.

        8.   Iranian revolution

In 1979 the ruling monarchy of Iran Mohammed Reza Pahlevi was overthrown. His forced to leave the country on January following months of demonstrations and strikes against his rule by secular and religious opponents who support Islamic religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini who returns from 14 years of exile. The US granted asylum to Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlevi, after President Jimmy Carter send him massage to leave Iran.

Following a poll, the Islamic Republic of Iran is announced on 1 April 1979. Conservative secretarial forces led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader who, according to the constitution, is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts (AOE).       

        9. Overthrow of Mossadeq

On 1953 US and British intelligence agencies composed a overthrow to Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadeq.

 The agency assets in Iran are not by themselves capable of overthrowing Mossadeq’s Government, but should Gen Zahedi be supported by these assets and by financial. 

The US documentary report point out the  basic assumptions that the government of Zahedi will not be able to establish itself or to remain long in power without the active support and moral leadership of the Shah. Hence, it is considered essential that a U.S. representative be engaged in contact with the Shah in an effort to obtain a firm commitment of such support as later on became prime Minister.

The secular leader had sought to nationalise Iran's oil industry effective, which result AIOC surrendering a larger share of investment into American oil companies. British was not happy as American already dominated Saudia oil operations but they accepted for advantage of overthrow irritated Mossadeq. Iran leader assured that implementation of the oil agreement will be followed by a very substantial sum from the U.S., either as a cash advance on oil sales or as a grant .

       1 0. The US cut off diplomatic relations with Iran

US-Iranian relations became strained when a group of Iranian students detained the US Embassy in 1979 and held embassy people as hostages until 1981. Thereafter the US cut off diplomatic relations with Iran in April 1980, later on the war between Iraq and Iran as expanded to Persian Gulf and result clashes between US Navy and Iranian Military Forces.

The United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran currently do not have diplomatic relations. Switzerland is the U.S. protecting power and provides limited consular services to U.S. citizens in Iran. Iran has no embassy in Washington, D.C . 

The assassination of General Soleimani in January 2020 fuelled more war tension between US and Iran which make the diplomatic more severed.