Hidden History of U.S.-Iran Relations
The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States have been at loggerheads ever since America’s ally, the shah, was overthrown in 1979. Iran was an important part of U.S. hegemony in the Middle East. In the decades since, Washington has waged cyber warfare, drone strikes, assassinations, sabotage and sanctions against Tehran. Washington and its media echo chamber portray Iran as dangerous and threatening even though it’s surrounded by American bases and spends just a pittance on weaponry compared to the U.S. But hostility wasn’t always the norm. There’s a rich and mostly hidden history that began several hundred years ago where the two countries had friendly relations. Historian John Ghazvinian said that relationship was filled mutual “admiration, warmth, and benevolence.”
Speaker
John Ghazvinian
John Ghazvinian, a distinguished historian, is the Executive Director of the Middle East Center at the University of Pennsylvania. His articles have appeared in Newsweek, The New Statesman, and The Nation. He is the author of America and Iran: A History, 1720 to the Present.
Steven Monrad –
Excellent overview extending farther back in time than we normally get. A lot of interesting and some surprising events and trends from the past. American missionaries role also.