Page 25 - Nile Explorer Issue 006

The relations between the United
States of America and the Islamic
Republic of Iran have remained tense
over forty years since the revolution that
overthrew Shah Pahlavi in 1979. ese
tensions heightened a er president
Donald Trumps policy of applying
maximum pressure on Iran was met by
Iran’s maximum resistance. Tense
relations between USA on the one hand
and Iran on the other are not new rather
informed by both emotional and
substantive grievance with deeper A man covers his face as people take part in an anti-war protest amid increased
historical, economic, political, cultural tensions between the United States and Iran at Times Square in New York. (Photo: Reuters
and military roots. e result has been
sustained hostility in the Persian Gulf peace plan triggering fresh fault lines. considered as a strong ally against Iran
and beyond. e Tehran regime has In this article, Patrick Ivuti, our Middle expansionism in the Middle East. e
accused the USA of waging economic East correspondent explores Iran and USA accuses Iran of not supporting the
war and sabotage by placing sanctions USA relations in the Middle East. nation of Israel that almost every USA
on trade, arms and development aid. regime renders unconditional support
USA stands accused of freezing Iran’s e USA accusation of Iran and counter at the expense of the Palestinians. e
nancial assets, supporting Saddam accusations e USA accuses Iran of USA accuses Iran of attacking Saudi
Hussein against Iran during Iraq-Iran destabilization of the international Arabia strategic oil installations and
war and support rendered to Shah system and her national interests in the creating insecurity at the strait of
Pahlavi a er instigating a coup against Middle East and beyond and therefore a Hormuz, a strategic sea route in the
democratically elected Prime Minister dangerous actor in the international middle east, illegally trying to acquire
Mohamed Mosadeq in 1953. In relations. Such accusations are not new nuclear bombs and capabilities, and
addition, the USA is accused of but have come to de ne Iran and USA spreading radical Islam and terrorism.
downing Iranian plane A300 air Bus relations since 1953. e USA thinks e Accusations are diverse but clearly
killing the 290 passengers on board in that Iran does not appreciate the USA touch on substantive to emotional as
1988. Series of crises such as Iran contra economic, political and military pointed out earlier.
scandal, president George Bush’s support against Soviet aggression
labelling of Iran, together with Iraq and during the Cold War, disrespecting e Islamic republic of Iran considers
north Korea as the axis of evil, and Iran’s USA national values through improper USA as an economic bully and a threat
nuclear fears have de ned tense Iran frames such as Ayatollah Khomeini to its own survival and therefore an
and USA relation from 1980s to date. frequent labelling of USA as the great enemy to be neutralized than
e recent assassination of Major Satan in his speeches. USA further accommodated. Yet, there has been no
General Qasem Soulemani, the head of accuses Iran of spreading terrorism major military confrontation between
Iranian covert operations and across the Middle East and beyond by the USA and Iran, even under Trump
intelligence further heightened already supporting armed militias and pro Iran administration considered the most
tense relations that had escalated since surrogates such as the Hizbollah in antagonistic through his maximum
May 2019. Iran vowed to revenge the Lebanon, e Houthis in Yemen and pressure policy on Iran. Clearly, the
assassination and pulled out of the 2015 Palestinian Jihadists across the Middle accusations and counter accusations
nuclear accord. Most recently, President East. e USA forged strong relations warrant
Donald Trump unveiled his Middle East with Saudi Arabia and as such is
The Nile Explorer 006 | 23 The Nile Explorer 006 | 25