History of Iran and the USA Relationship

1
History of Iran and the USA Relationship the
Nuclear Question

• By Dr. Farahbakhsh, Professor Executive
  Director
  
• Center for International Business and Economic
  Studies
  
• Salem State College
• Charlotte Forten Hall
• 24 April 2006

2
Introduction

• This is a presentation that sets certain events
  in chronological order to show the escalating
  strain on the relationship between these two
  countries.

3
1941 - 1979

• The rule of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran
• Moved into power by the Soviet Union and the U.K.
  after the fall of his father, Reza Shah.
  
• Reza Shah refused to expel German nationals from
  Iran
  
• 25 August 1941 - Irans neutrality ignored by the
  U.K. (west and south) and Russian forces (north)
  and they occupied Iran
  
• 16 September 1941 Reza Shah turned over the
  throne to his son, Mohammed Reza(21 years old)

4
1941 - 1979

• Iranian Dreaded Secret Service (SAVAK) was
  trained by CIA
  
• Consecutive U.S. administrations (regardless of
  party affiliation), increasingly supported
  Mohammed Reza Pahlavi and his regime throughout
  the years

5
28 November 1 December 1943

• Tehran Conference
• President F.D. Roosevelt, Prime Minister W.
  Churchill, and Premier J. Stalin recognize Irans
  independence/territorial integrity and provided
  economic assistance
• Iran was named Bridge to Victory since it was
  used to transport war materials to support Russia

6
December 1945

• Azerbaijan crisis
• Azerbaijan Democratic Party declared the north
  west region an autonomous republic
  
• Kurdish Republic of Mahabad established shortly
  thereafter in mid west
  
• Oil concessions were given to appease Soviet
  Union and settle the crisis peacefully

7
1947

• Iran and the U.S. signed an agreement for U.S. to
  provide military aid and train the Iranian army
  

8
1951 - 1953

• Mossadegh was re-elected to the parliament (30
  years tenure)
  
• 15 March 1951 Iranian parliament (the Majlis)
  nationalized Irans oil industry and seized
  control of British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil
  Company (AIOC), the predecessor of British
  Petroleum (BP)
• 28 April 1951 Mohammed Mossadegh voted as new
  prime minister

9
1951 - 1953

• 1951-Mossadegh was named Time magazines Man of
  the Year
  
• Oct. 1952-Mossadegh declared U.K. was an enemy
• Aug. 1953-The Shah flees Iran to Baghdad, then
  Italy after Mossadegh refused to be dismissed by
  the Shah.

10
1953

• U.S. coup in Iran
• Also known as Operation Ajax
• 15 August Kermit Roosevelt, grandson of Theodore
  Roosevelt and a CIA operative, planned coup
  failed
  
• 19 August his second attempt was successful

11
1953 - 1963

• Irans increased dependence on
• The oil industry
• U.S. Economic and military aid
• Western alliance

12
1959

• Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) was created
• Founded by Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, U.S., and
  Britain
  
• Goal was to contain the Soviet Union by having a
  line of strong states along U.S.S.R.s
  southwestern border
  
• Member states were committed to mutual
  cooperation and protection, as well as non-
  intervention in each others affairs
  

13
10 14 September 1960

• The official creation of Organization of
  Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
  
• Founding members are Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi
  Arabia, and Venezuela
  
• Secure fair and stable pricing for petroleum
  producers

14
1964

• Khomeini was exiled by the Shah to Turkey before
  being allowed to move to Iraq for many years
  (1964 1978), was forced to move to France
  (Neauphle-le-Château outside of Paris) before the
  revolution in 1978

15
21 July 1964

• The Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD) is
  formed
  
• Founding members are Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan
• Summit held in Istanbul
• Purpose was to promote social and economic
  relations between member countries

16
1970 1975

• U.S. was the number one buyer of oil from Iran

17
1973

• Arab oil embargo
• Syria and Egypt had declared war upon Israel
• Arab members of OPEC placed an oil embargo upon
  the U.S. and the Netherlands for supporting
  Israel
  
• Iran increased oil production to assist the U.S.

18
1976

• U.S. arms sales to Iran

19
December 1977

• Jimmy Carter visit to Iran
• On a New Years Eve visit to Tehran, Iran, Carter
  toasted Mohammed Reza Pahlavi and called Iran an
  island of stability amid a region (Middle East)
  full of turmoil

20
1979

• 16 January Shahs departure from Iran to Egypt
• 1 February Khomeinis return to Iran
• 12 February Iranian Revolution
• 1 April-Islamic Republic of Iran was founded

21
1979

• Iranian Revolution
• Transformed Iran from an autocratic, pro-western
  monarchy, under Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, to an
  Islamic, populist theocratic republic under the
  rule of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
• Two stages of the revolution
• Alliance of liberal, leftist, and religious
  groups ousts the Shah
  
• The Ayatollahs rise to power (Islamic Revolution)

22
1979

• 4 November Hostages were taken from the U.S.
  Embassy in Tehran
  
• 5 November The Republics first Prime Minister
  Mehdi Bazargan resigned who represented the
  educated liberals National Front
  
• 14 November President Carter issues Executive
  Order 12170 freezing all Iranian government
  assets, estimated at 8 billion

23
1980

• 25 April - U.S. attempt to rescue hostages fails
• 4 November Reagan won election

24
September 1980 August 1988

• Iran-Iraq War
• Also called First Persian Gulf War, Imposed War,
  or simply the Gulf War
  
• Trying to establish territorial borders between
  two nations
  
• U.S. supplied Iraq with real-time intelligence,
  economic aid, and chemical weapons

25
September 1980 August 1988

• 3 July 1988 U.S. Navy cruiser USS Vincennes
  (Robo Cruiser) shoots down Iran Air Flight 655
  (Airbus A300B2), all 290 passengers crew were
  killed
• 22 February 1996 U.S. agreed to pay Iran 61.8
  million in compensation for the 248 Iranians
  killed

26
1981 - 1989

• 20 January 1981 - Hostages were released, minutes
  after President Reagans inauguration
  
• U.S. and Iran went to U.N. International Court of
  Justice (World Court) in the Hague over the
  claims by U.S. companies concerning the frozen
  Iranian government assets and settled
• 4,700 U.S. claims filed resulting in more than
  2.5 billion in awards

27
1985

• The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is
  formed
  
• Promotes economic, technical, and cultural
  cooperation among Member States
  
• Founding members are Afghanistan, Azerbaijan,
  Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan,
  Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan

28
1985

• U.S. Iran Contra scandal
• Trading arms for hostages with Iran
• Providing illegal paramilitary aid to the Contras
  in Central America
  
• Lt. Col. Oliver North hatched a plan to skim
  millions of dollars from the sales of arms to
  Iran to finance the Contras

29
Aug. 1990 Feb. 1991

• Iraqs invasion of Kuwait (Persian Gulf War)
• U.S. with the support of the U.N. liberates
  Kuwait and forces Iraqis to retreat
  
• Iran remains neutral although she is directly
  affected by the eco-terrorism (burning of the oil
  wells and discharge of the crude into the Persian
  Gulf)

30
16 March 1995

• As a result of alleged Iranian sponsorship of
  international terrorism and her active pursuit of
  weapons of mass destruction, President Clinton
  issued Executive Order 12957 prohibiting U.S.
  involvement with petroleum development in Iran

31
6 May 1995

• President Clinton signed Executive Order 12959,
  pursuant to the International Emergency Economic
  Powers Act (IEEPA), as well as the International
  Security and Development Cooperation Act (ISDCA),
  substantially tightening sanctions against Iran

32
19 August 1997

• President Clinton signed Executive Order 13059
  clarifying Executive Orders 12957 and 12959 and
  confirming that virtually all trade and
  investment activities with Iran by U.S. persons,
  wherever located, were prohibited

33
April 2000

• U.S. Iran economic sanctions
• Economic sanctions were eased by permitting U.S.
  persons to buy and import carpets and food

34
2001

• 11 September Three passenger jets are
  deliberately crashed into the World Trade Towers
  and the Pentagon. A fourth jet was downed in
  Pennsylvania
• 7 October - U.S. invades Afghanistan (Operation
  Enduring Freedom)
  
• Marks the beginning of the War on Terrorism
• Target Al-Qaeda members
• Punish Taliban for supporting Al-Qaeda

35
29 January 2002

• The Axis of evil reference
• President George W. Bush refers to Iran, Iraq,
  and North Korea in his State of the Union Address
  as an axis of evil, countries that have come to
  be identified with terrorist activities and
  seeking weapons of mass destruction

36
2003

• U.S., U.K., Australia, Poland invade Iraq
  (Operation Iraqi Freedom)
  
• 20 March begins the Iraq War
• 2 April Iraqi Republican Guard defeated
• 9 April fall of Baghdad
• 13 December capture of Saddam Hussein

37
11 March 2005

• U.S. and allies agree on steps in Iran disputes
• Europe and U.S. agreed on a joint approach in
  negotiations with Iran
  
• U.S. will support Irans entry into WTO and sell
  critical spare parts for airliners, if Iran
  agrees to give up its nuclear program

38
2005

• October 2005 Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, Director
  General of the International Atomic Energy Agency
  (IAEA), and the IAEA were jointly awarded the
  Nobel Peace Prize for efforts "to prevent nuclear
  energy from being used for military purposes and
  to ensure that nuclear energy for peaceful
  purposes is used in the safest possible way."

39
6 October 2005

• U.S. policy makers come up with plan to deal with
  Iran
  
• U.S. takes a tougher stance against a regime that
  seeks nuclear weapons, supports terrorism,
  oppresses its people, and continues to defy the
  international community

40
27 October 2005

• New Iranian President said Israel should be
  eradicated
  
• Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad quoted
  Ayatollah Khomeini calling for Israel to be
  wiped off the map
  
• Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon asked for the
  removal of Iran from the U.N.

41
Evolution of Irans nuclear program

• 1950s Iran received assistance from U.S. under
  the Atoms for Peace initiative created by the
  Eisenhower Administration
  
• 1979 - Ayatollah Khomeini cancelled all nuclear
  programs including the construction of two
  nuclear reactors at Bushehr shortly after the
  Iranian revolution

42
Evolution of Irans nuclear program

• 1980s Irans pursuit of a covert nuclear
  program was revisited after Saddam Husseins
  attacks upon Iranian cities, troops, and maritime
  ships
• Iran actively pursued nuclear scientists and
  technicians who had worked previously in Iraq on
  the Osiraq reactor, namely A.Q. Khan, the father
  of the Pakistan nuclear bomb

43
2006 Irans nuclear program

• 10 January Iran removed International Atomic
  Energy Agency (IAEA) seals at enrichment-related
  locations
  
• 12 January Foreign ministers of the U.K.,
  Germany, and France met and discussed taking Iran
  to U.N. Security Council in reference to nuclear
  activities
• 13 January Iran threatened to block U.N.
  inspections if referred to the Security Council

44
2006 Irans nuclear program

• 16 January China and Russia agree with U.S.
  that Iran must completely suspend its nuclear
  program.
  
• 26 January Hamas, a radical Palestinian group
  and ally of Iranian government that advocates the
  destruction of Israel, won the elections in the
  Palestinian Authority controlled areas.

45
2006 Irans nuclear program

• 30 January U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Russia,
  and China met in London to coordinate policies
  vis-à-vis Irans nuclear program.

46
2006

• 4 February I.A.E.A. referred Iran to the U.N.
  Security Council by a vote of 27 to 3. Iranian
  government reacted immediately by announcing that
  they will stop cooperating with the I.A.E.A.
  inspectors and will resume enrichment of uranium
  for peaceful purposes.

47
2006

• 28 February Report on Iran Nuclear Safeguards
  sent to Agency's Board. IAEA Director circulated
  his latest report on the Agency's nuclear
  verification in Iran to the IAEAs Member States.

48
2006

• 2 March IAEA Director General welcomes the
  high-level meeting between Foreign Ministers of
  the EU3, the High Representative of the EU and
  Supreme National Security Council (SNSC)
  Secretary Ali Larijani scheduled to take place on
  3 March in Vienna.

49
2006

8 March Report on Iran's Nuclear Programme
Sent to UN Security Council. IAEA Director
General transmitted his report on Iran's nuclear
programme to the UN Security Council. Speaking to
the press, the Director General called for a
"cool headed approach" from all parties.
50
2006

• 9 March President of Iran said that the west
  would be vulnerable if they impose sanctions
  against Iran.
  
• Russia China announced that they will oppose
  any sanctions against Iran if the matter gets to
  the Security Council.
  

51
2006

• 20 March UN Security Council takes up IAEA
  report on Iran's Nuclear Programme. The IAEA
  report on Iran's nuclear programme topped the
  agenda of a closed-door meeting of the United
  Nations Security Council 17 March, the first time
  the issue has been formally addressed by the
  15-member body.
• 29 March The UN Security Council President
  issued a statement on the IAEAs verification of
  Iran's nuclear programme and the importance of a
  diplomatic, negotiated solution that would
  guarantee that Irans nuclear programme was
  exclusively for peaceful purposes.

52
2006

• 31 March Iran test missile, capable of carrying
  nuclear warhead, and performs large scale
  (17,000) military exercises (maneuvers) by the
  Iranian Navy in the Persian Gulf successfully.
• 2 April Iran test underwater missile
  successfully

53
2006

• 10 April The Bush administration said that its
  priority is to seek a diplomatic solution to the
  dispute over Iran's nuclear ambitions, amid
  reports of stepped-up planning for possible U.S.
  tactical nuclear air strikes.
• Iran accused the United States of waging a
  "psychological war" out of desperation.
  

54
2006

• 11 April Iranian President announced that Iran
  has 164 working nuclear centrifuges and will
  continue to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
  Donald Rumsfeld, U.S. Secretary of Defense said
  that U.S. is pursuing a diplomatic solution.

55
2006

• 18 April The Iranian army will "cut off the
  hand of any aggressor," Iranian President Mahmoud
  Ahmadinejad warned Tuesday during the military
  parade commemorating the Irans Army Day.

56
2006

• 18 April Conference in Russia to deal with
  Irans nuclear activities.
  
• Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary of State for
  Political Affairs, represented the United States
  along with representatives from United Kingdom,
  France, Germany, the European Union, China, and
  Russia.
• 21 April Price of crude oil hit a record
  75/barrel

57
Summary

• The U.S. needs to understand the importance of
  negotiations while not imposing upon the others
  freedom to pursue peaceful solutions for civil
  purposes. Iran needs to understand the meaning of
  uninhibited cooperation on an international level
  so that it may begin to rebuild the trust that
  eludes them.

58
Questions Answers

• Questions will be fielded one at a time
• Please wait to be acknowledged before asking a
  question
  
• Thank you for your patience and time