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US and Iran Relations during the Cold War

US and Iran Relations during the Cold War


The Cold War was actually a political, economic, military and ideological clash between The Soviet Union and United States that started immediately after the World War II and concluded in 1989. The enmity between the United States and Russia has a long history of mutual distrust. But the interference of United States in the Asia Pacific region, particularly, Iran is a mystery indeed. What was the real reason behind the interference of United States in the Iranian affairs? What was the real reason behind the cold war? Moreover, the later years of twentieth century revealed that everything was turning out to be a threat to United States. Much of their 'friends' turned out to be their 'enemies'. How this happened to United States?

The Cold War

Soviet Union and the United States were allies during the Second World War, but their alliance soon unraveled and turned into a period of enmity. After the war, both these nations started developing varying opinion about the post-war world. America considered the nations of the world as interdependent and wanted other nations to offer open markets for their goods and services. Moreover, they were extremely proud of their 'democratic' system, (trusted in Manifest Destiny) and wanted to share these concepts with the rest of the world, particularly with the new Asian independent nations.
The Soviet Union however had a totally different dream regarding the post-war world. They were much bothered about establishing greater security. Soviet Union started expanding their control over much of where United States had interest (during the decades after World War II). United States was highly alarmed at this situation as they were very much aware that the domination of Soviet domination in this area would close their free access to markets and the chance of popularizing the vision of democracy.

These conflicting views of Soviet Union and the United States led to the rebellions in nations like Iran, Turkey and Greece. During the Second World War British had conquered the southern part of Iran and the Soviet Union occupied the northern part close to the part bordering Azerbaijan, the Soviet republic. Both of them did not want to lose the Middle East as they desired full access to the rich oil fields of these regions. The Soviet Union wanted to preserve its southern border at any cost. Great Britain sought help from United States to support the pro-British Shah and to stop the Arab nationalists from attaining power. United Nations took the initiative to bring a settlement between the Soviet Union and United States in 1946 to solve the issue. However, the discussion session among the delegates of United States and Soviet Union spoiled the session. Both groups finally reached an agreement, but it did not solve any problems. The accumulating political, military and economic competitions and problems between the two giant powers finally resulted into the Cold War.

The 1979 (November 4) event of catching of the American embassy, together with the staff in the capital of Iran, Tehran, deteriorated the US-Iran fellowship. If there existed any hope of peace between these two nations following the Shah's tenure in the beginning of the year, this event put off that also. The question of reestablishing the old ties rose up in both the countries twenty years later during the concluding years of 1990s. However, reestablishing the fellowship was not that easy as their still exist numerous variations and controversies in regional policies and strategic matters. Even meetings and other settlement talks were also impossible as there existed blind-fold hostility and opinion variations.

The political scenario in Iran underwent huge changes later following the landslide victory of 1997 by the President Mohammad Khatemi which opened the path of revitalizing of the post-revolutionary policies of the nation. The new leader took the initiative for calling their enemy for open talk 'dialogue of civilizations' trying to break the ice of two decades. United States, even though with extreme caution, considered reconciliation but neither of the nations was dare enough to make an official plunge. The presidents of the nations Clinton and Khatemi attempted to make few non-governmental and private agreements.
In 1998, The National Security Archive made an attempt to mend Iran-United States fellowship. The attempt was really to solve all the misunderstandings and all negative experiences and outlooks that both nations had about each other. The initiative also tried to melt off all 'stories of enmity' that were the results of the eventful period starting from the CIA-assisted conspiracy of 1953 to the giant revolution of 1978-1979.
The attempt of the archive involved bringing the scholars together and collecting all the relevant documentary sources from Iran and from other nations to study the perspectives and the stand of other nations. This endeavor of The National Security Archive included attempt to, encourage civil dialogue and proper understanding of the controversial issues, promote the aspects of 'freedom of information', and conduct various scholarly discussion.
During the post-World War period, Azerbaijan, the Iranian province was a bone of contention between Soviet Union and United States. Soviet Union encouraged the movements in Kurdistan and Azerbaijan and continued to deploy the military forces even after the war. This created confusions between United States and Iran. United States was bothered very much about Azerbaijan (and Iran) as it is a strategic point as gateway to important positions like Persian Gulf and also a chief source of oil. The ultimate objective of Soviet Union was also nothing but the control over Azerbaijan, and they wanted to be treated at par with the other two giants, Britain and United States.
Before the 1979 enmity episode, the most prominent issue between United States and Iran was the coup against Mohammad Mossadeq, the Prime Minister of Iran, in 1979. The British intelligence and CIA participated in investigating the coup, but the original details of the coup, the circumstances that resulted in the coup and its original impacts are still unknown.

The relation between United States and Iran entered a new phase during the Presidency of Nixon. On the basis of the 1969 Nixon Doctrine that explained the interest of the States to depend regional powers to uphold US interests, Shah was allowed to establish his country as a major power in the areas of Middle East. Shah and Nixon made few crucial agreements in 1969 and 1972 (during the formers visit to US) in which the latter promised his military assistance for Iran. Later in 1979, however, the "Students Following the Line of the Imam" attacked the US embassy and captured majority of the crucial files of the embassy.

Here start the crucial decisions taken by United States that worsened the existing wounded Iran-United States relationship of the Cold War. In 1985, The President Ronald Reagan brought a series of covert arms deals with Iran for releasing the Americans who were under the capture of the Lebanon Islamic militants (The president ignored the official policy of denial to cut deals with terrorists). United States' sending of weapons to Iran was under the impression that they want to resist Soviet Union's effort of controlling Iran. However, the rationale of this weapon transaction was truly upon the old 'cold war imperatives'. The United States' plan of sending weapon to Iran was however brought several controversies and was indeed a wrong idea. Caspar Weinberger, the Defense Secretary commented it as "too absurd to comment on". The idea was less fruitful and resulted into more complications, even though Reagan later tried exploring contacts with Iran.

The President George Bush waged the open hot war against the Saddam Hussein regime of Iraq. Soviet Union was no longer in question and it was not a threat to the interests of United States during this time (unlike the previous events). The value of 'oil' to the national security of United States was the most important fact that compelled United States to involve in the Persian Gulf; Iran and Iraq throughout the cold war. Another crucial action of United States that worsened the relation was that Washington, during the 1980s established secret fellowship with Saddam Hussein during the Iraq-Iran war happened in the period 1980-1988. United States was of the belief that Ayatollah Khomeini's anti-Americanism and perpetuation of Islamic revolution in the whole Persian Gulf would bring threat to the interests and influence of Unites States. All these created more gaps between United States and Iran.

There is a great lesson to learn from the strategic blunders done by United States on his blind attempt to gain control over the 'oil wealth' of Asia Pacific regions, typically Iran. Bush administration, today but look forward for 'peace' and 'diplomacy' talk with Iran. United States attempted the forceful removal of the theocratic regime that controls the power regions of Tehran. United States seldom considered the interests of Iranian public and constantly emphasized the weaknesses of the regime of Mullah and continuously stressed to convince them of the absolute requirement of the establishment of democracy in Iran. Today’s American foreign policy of 'militarism' and 'war' appears in the disguised form of 'liberation' and 'democracy'. United States need to convince the hearts of Iran their 'enduring freedom'. CIA still has a terrorist group that performs remote bombings and clashes in Iran today also. United States still need to strengthen its presence and learn from the crucial mistakes it made. The United States spent several years encouraging Islamists, manipulating their strength, and misusing them as old Cold War allies. They also United States attempted to construct a barrier with Soviet Union (along the southern occupation). United States did not learn anything from the Iranian revolution of 1979 and sacrificed the people support they had in Iran. They could not comprehend that Islamism is really out of their control and is dangerous. United States tried to contain Soviet Union in Iran. But they neglected the interests of the Iranian citizens heading the nation towards annihilation. They led the nation towards a real 'people revolt'. If United States had allowed Soviet Union to have control over Iran, the story would have been different; the whole cold war would have entered a different, much peaceful, phase.





References
William L. Ury, Graham T. Allison, Bruce J. Allyn. Windows of Opportunity: from cold war to peaceful competition in U.S.-Soviet relations. Ballinger Pub. Co, 1989.
Howard Jones. Crucible of Power: A History of U.S. Foreign Relations Since 1897. Rowman & Littlefield, 2001.
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations. Overview: Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, For sale by the U.S. G.P.O., Supt. of Docs., Congressional Sales Office, 1996.
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Posted by: Helen P. Nash

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