Peculiarities of Political Relations Between Iran and the United States Before the Islamic Revolution

Abstract

The 19th century was marked by significant challenges and upheavals in Iranian history. During this period, two major empires, Great Britain and Russia, fought to assert their dominance over Iran, effectively reducing the country to a semi-colonial status. In response, Iran sought to restore its sovereignty by inviting a third power—the United States—into the region. Over time, intergovernmental relations between Iran and the United States became increasingly close and comprehensive, encompassing political, military, economic, and other areas of cooperation. At the beginning of the 20th century, Great Britain and the Russian Empire divided Iran into spheres of influence without the country’s consent. Against this backdrop, fostering closer ties with the United States became an existential priority for Tehran. After World War I, the United States emerged as a key regional partner for Iran, particularly during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi.

From the late 1940s onward, a movement emerged in Iran to nationalize its oil industry, led by Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. Mossadegh aspired to replace British influence with American support, hoping that U.S. policy toward Iran would differ from Britain’s and be geared toward strengthening Iran’s independence and sovereignty. He envisioned the U.S. as a guarantor of Iran’s right to formulate and implement its own domestic and foreign policy and to exercise control over its natural resources.

During the reign of the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, political relations between Iran and the United States became notably friendly. Numerous bilateral agreements were signed across various sectors, including politics, defense, economics, and nuclear cooperation. At that time, Iran was regarded by the U.S. as its most reliable regional ally and a principal conduit for promoting American interests in the Middle East. This close partnership between the two states persisted until the Islamic Revolution.Iran