US vs. Iran: Three generations of conflict
US vs. Iran: Three Generations of Conflict
The recent war between the U.S. and Iran, which began on February 28, wasn’t a sudden event. Decades of historical tensions have built the foundation for today’s disputes. DW examines how three critical moments—starting with the 1953 coup, then the 1979-81 hostage crisis, and culminating in the nuclear standoff—continue to influence both nations’ relationships.
The 1953 Coup: A Shift in Power
In the mid-20th century, Iran and the U.S. shared a strategic alliance. Washington viewed Tehran as a vital partner in countering Soviet influence. However, this partnership faced a major test when Iran’s elected leader, Mohammad Mossadegh, took control of the country’s oil industry in 1951, challenging Western dominance. Two years later, the CIA and MI6 orchestrated a coup to restore Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s rule.
“The 1953 coup was a pivotal moment, where the U.S. and Britain collaborated to remove Mossadegh and reinstate the shah,” said Ian Lesser, vice president at the German Marshall Fund think tank.
This intervention sparked a lasting sense of betrayal among Iranians. Many saw it as an attack on democratic governance, linking the shah to U.S. influence. Negin Shiraghei, founder of the Azadi Network, noted how this perception carried forward: “My parents’ generation blamed the U.S. for Iran’s struggles, viewing the shah as a puppet of foreign powers.”
The Hostage Crisis: A Defining Moment
By the late 1970s, anti-American sentiment had deepened. The 1979-81 hostage crisis became a symbol of this hostility. On November 4, 1979, a group aligned with Ayatollah Khomeini’s ideology seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 66 Americans captive. They demanded the shah’s return, fearing another Western-backed takeover.
“For many Americans, the embassy takeover was an act of aggression, broadcast on TV as a national humiliation,” Lesser explained.
The 444-day ordeal left a profound mark on U.S. public opinion and policy. The hostages’ release was celebrated with a grand parade in New York, solidifying Iran’s image as an adversary. This event also shaped the views of current U.S. leaders, as Lesser pointed out: “The people around the president and the president himself were influenced by these early years of tension.”
The Nuclear Dispute: A Legacy of Mistrust
Following the 1979 revolution, Iran’s new government adopted a confrontational stance toward the U.S. This attitude persists today, with many senior officials still rooted in the revolutionary ideals. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), established to protect the regime, remains a key player in suppressing dissent and reinforcing ideological opposition.
Meanwhile, Iranians born in the 1990s and 2000s experienced a different era. While the 1979 revolution’s legacy endured, this generation witnessed periods of political liberalization. Shiraghei highlighted how attitudes shifted: “Public sentiment was evolving rapidly, even if people hesitated to voice it.”
The ongoing nuclear dispute, now a third generation of conflict, reflects these layered histories. Each event has carved a path of distrust, shaping how both nations approach diplomacy and security today.
