US-Iran Relations: A Short Overview from the 1953 Coup to Trump’s Strikes | Trump News
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EXPLAINER
Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iran has remained an adversary to the US in the Middle East.
Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated to a peak in decades, following President Donald Trump’s recent order of direct strikes on key nuclear facilities across the Middle Eastern country, as he described the actions as “obliterating” the sites.
Ever since the 1979 Islamic revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which overthrew pro-Western ruler Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran has become the principal adversary for the US in the region. Ever since, both nations have disagreed on numerous issues, such as Iran’s nuclear aims, support for regional proxies, and accusations of US political interference.
The country of Israel, which views Iran as a threat, recently launched its strikes across Iran, blaming the nation for developing nuclear weapons without presenting credible evidence. This prompted Trump to involve the US in the conflict following the Israeli strikes.
On Sunday, the US carried out a direct hit on Iran, which the Trump administration labeled as a sophisticated covert attack that included over 125 US aircraft and 75 precision bombs. Washington claimed it “decimated” Iran’s nuclear facilities, yet Tehran has vowed to retaliate.
After the UNSC Resolution 598 and during the Iran-Iraq war’s ceasefire, an IRGC soldier guarded his sandbag post in Khorramshahr, Iran [File: Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images]
A timeline of US-Iran relations since 1953:
(1953) US-backed coup and reinstallation of the shah: This initial hostilities stemmed from the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh, seeking to nationalize the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (presently BP). Supported by the majority of Western countries, the British initiated a coup, backed by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), to evacuate Mosaddegh and reinstall deposed monarch, Pahlavi, as shah after discovering oil in 1902.
(1957) Atoms for Peace: The shah’s interventions for a nuclear Iran met backing from the US and other Western countries. Both nations signed a nuclear agreement under former US President Dwight Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” program, as perceptions of a potential Iraqi invasion became a concern to Iran. Eventually, in 1979, the US delivered a nuclear reactor and uranium to fuel Iran, forming the basis of today’s nuclear argument.
(1979) Islamic revolution: Despite strong relations between Washington and Tehran, Iranians resisted Western influence and overwhelming dictatorship by Shah Pahlavi. Instead of improving their domestic lives, the 1979 revolution culminated in the exile of the shah and Islamic scholar Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s return to establish an Islamic republic following protests.
(1980) US cuts diplomatic ties: Following the US decision to allow Shah Pahlavi to seek treatment for cancer, Iran broke into the American embassy in Tehran. This led to the capture and detainment of 52 Americans for 444 days. In response, diplomatic relations were severed, and sanctions imposed on Iran. Also, Shah Pahlavi died in exile.
(1980-88) US backs Iraqi invasion: When Iraq invaded Iran in 1980 due to ideological differences with Khomeini, the US sided with Iraq, thereby distorting the relationship between both countries. The conflict dragged on till 1988, leading to tremendous mortality rates on both sides, and even the use of chemical weapons by Iraq on Iran.
(1984) Sponsor of terror designation: After a series of attacks in Lebanon, where the US entered the scene following an Israeli invasion, US President Ronald Reagan officially categorized Iran as a “state sponsor of terror,” The tragic incident involving the deaths of 241 US service members in Beirut was attributed to Hezbollah, a Shia movement in Lebanon backed by Iran.
(1988) Iran Air flight shot down: During THIS dispute, which included direct attacks on both countries’ armed forces and violations of each other’s territorial waters, a civilian Iran Air flight (IR655) was hit by a US naval vessel, leading to the deaths of all 290 passengers on board. The incident was claimed to be an error by the US, with no formal apology, but compensation was paid to the victims’ families.
(1995) Tighter sanctions: During the years between 1995 and 1996, the US tightened sanctions by banning its companies from dealing with Iran and penalizing foreign entities investing in Iran’s energy sector or selling it advanced weapons. The alleged reasons were nuclear advancement and support for Hezbollan, Hamas, and Palestine Islamic Jihad.
(2002) 9/11 aftermath: Following the 2001 terrorist attacks in the US, President George W Bush listed Iran alongside Iraq and North Korea as members of an “Axis of Evil.” Although Iran had been attempting to collaborate with the US to target al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, collaboration ended by 2022, culminating in international entities reportedly discovering traces of highly enriched uranium in Iran and ensuing sanctions.
(2013) Iran nuclear deal: From 2013 to 2015, talks between the US and Iran were initiated by US President Barack Obama, culminating in Tehran’s agreement to a comprehensive accord commonly termed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to limit Iran’s nuclear activities in return for sanctions. Besides the US, China, Russia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the European Union were parties to the agreement that capped Iran’s enrichment at 3.67 percent.
(2018) Trump withdraws from the nuclear deal: During Trump’s first term, the US was unilaterally pulled out of the deal, resulting in Iran also calling off its commitments and commencing uranium enrichment beyond mandated restrictions.
(2020) IRGC leader assassinated: Under Trump’s first term, the US assassinated Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in a Baghdad drone strike. In response, Iran targeted American assets in Iraq.
(2025) Letter to Tehran: In March, Trump sent a letter proposing negotiations on a nuclear pact with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei within a 60-day timeframe. Decision-makers in Iran dismissed the overture, prompting hitherto informal talks in Oman and Italy, featuring Muscat as the intermediary. US officials claimed to be close to securing a deal after rounds of talks but warned Israel against launching strikes. Earlier, Tehran had expressed optimism but wanted the right to enrich uranium – a contentious issue in discussions. Strikes across Iran were initiated by Israel shortly before the sixth round of the Iran-US talks started.
(2025) US strikes: The US bombed three key nuclear facilities in Iran, citing security concerns and Israel’s defense.
