History of Iran-United States Relations

By miguel26

  • CIA backed coup after WW2

    CIA backed coup after WW2
    Records of the 1953 coup were believed to have been already destroyed by the CIA, the archive said. The CIA said at time that its "safes were to full."

  • Iran joins the US-backed Baghdad Pact

    Iran joins the US-backed Baghdad Pact
    Iran joins the US-backed Baghdad Pact, known as the Central Treaty Organisation modelled after Nato and designed to contain Soviet expansion

  • Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

    Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
    A religious leader and fierce critic of the shah begins what would be 14 years of exile in Irag

  • The Shah of Iran

    The Shah of Iran
    The US-backed Shah is forced to flee to Egypt

  • The return

    The return
    Khomeini returns from exile and seizes power.

  • Iran and Iraq

    Iran and Iraq
    In a war that would last for the next eight years, Western-backed Iraq invades Iran.

  • Freedom

    Freedom
    The last 52 hostages are freed a few hours after Jimmy Carter, the then US president, leaves office. They were held for 444 days.

  • War

    War
    Iraq invades Kuwait

  • Accusations

    Accusations
    The US accuses Iran of being directly involved in the bombing of an American military base in Saudi Arabia, evoking an angry rejection of the charges by Tehran.

  • Relations?

    Relations?
    Khamanei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, says relations could be restored with the US in the future. The US accuses Iran of harassing US Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz.