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Latest news on matters concerning relations between Iran and the United States – two countries that have had no formal diplomatic relations since 1980.

US-Iran relations stem from the United States support for the Shah from WW2 until the Iranian Revolution in 1979. During this time, US-Iranian relations were close and positive. The Shah’s overthrow coupled with the Iranian Hostage Crisis (1979-81) and Iran’s anti-Western dogma reversed this state of affairs.

Since 1995, the United States has levied sanctions against Iran. These sanctions were briefly lifted under the Obama Administration as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action the Iran Nuclear Deal. In 2018, Iran was accused of continuing its nuclear development and facilitating global terrorism. Therefore, the Trump Administration withdrew from the treaty and reimposed sanctions.

Tensions between the two countries peaked over the United State’s assassination of Major General Qasem Soleimani, the commander of Quds Force, the Iranian Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) division primarily responsible for extraterritorial and clandestine military operations.