THE FRENEMIES; THE GENESIS OF UNITED STATES – IRAN RELATIONS SINCE THEIR INCEPTION

Abstract

The United States (US) – Iran relations commenced their voyage through the tumultuous waters in the mid of the 19^th century, one of the most defining spells in the modern history of International Relations when the Anglo – Russian power struggle in Asia was at its peak engulfing the Qajar Persia (Iran) which desperately sought a “Third Power” to counter these powers’ colonial pressures. But US opted to remain in a state of doldrums. Contrarily, there existed a “propagandised” perception that US – Iran relations have always been cordial except a short troubling period of Dr Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953. This study, in fact, is an endeavour to shrug-off this false perceptiveness prevalent among younger generations. Predominantly, this research encompasses the historical account coupled with divergent conceptual and operational aspects embraced by the US and Iran (diversely) in order to gain an insight about relations between both states, at best characterised as the “Frenemies”. As a matter of fact, this paper is nothing but a candid documented record of manipulations, exploitations and black-mailings by the US against Iran, a nemesis that ultimately paved the way for the rise of Iran.