In this episode, I sketch a rough outline of America’s complicated relations with Iran prior to 1979, then provide an overview of the confrontational period of US-Iran relations in the revolutionary period post-1979. Unlike China, Iran is a smaller country that is very careful about how it chooses to confront a world superpower. The nagging presence of Iran in the Middle East forces America to confront, but never to the point of an all out war. What’s a superpower to do?
Topics covered in this episode
- The backstory on American influence in Iran.
- Why Iran went from ally to enemy in 1979.
- The basic argument for and against the JCPOS, aka the “Iran nuclear deal.”
- The critical divide in Iranian society on the future of Iranian foreign policy
- What does a “regime change” policy look like without war?
- The argument for a “regime change” policy when it comes to Iran.
Materials cited in this episode
Podcasts
- TTP Podcast, Episode 10: More than oil? America and the Middle East
- TTP Podcast, Episode 13: Deciding on a drone strike: Making American foreign policy
Articles
- A Timeline of US-Iran Relations (PBS Newshour)
- The Next Iranian Revolution (Foreign Affairs)
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