How Donald Trump fits into decades of US-Iran rivalry - BBC World Service

The US-Iran Relationship: A History of Strain and Conflict

Key Concepts:

• Nationalization of Oil: The Iranian government taking control of its oil resources.
• Coup d'état (1953): The US and UK-backed overthrow of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh.
• Islamic Revolution (1979): The overthrow of the Shah and establishment of an Islamic Republic.
• Axis of Resistance: Network of groups supported by Iran, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
• Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) / Iran Nuclear Deal (2015): Agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
• Maximum Pressure Campaign: US policy under President Trump to reimpose sanctions on Iran.
• Non-Proliferation Treaty: International treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.

I. Early Relations & The Rise of Oil (Early 20th Century - 1951)

The relationship between the US and Iran began with a foundation built on oil. Oil discovery in southwestern Iran at the start of the 20th century dramatically altered Iran’s global position. A British company, later becoming BP, established Iran’s oil industry. While initially profitable, growing Iranian demands for greater control over their own resources emerged. Iranians felt that the wealth generated from their oil was leaving the country without providing sufficient benefit to its people. This sentiment fueled a desire for national control.

II. Mossadegh, the Coup, and the Shah (1951-1979)

Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh rose to power in 1951, promising to nationalize Iran’s oil industry, a move he swiftly implemented. This action prompted a boycott of Iranian oil by Britain, supported by the United States, leading to a significant economic collapse over two years. In 1953, the US and British intelligence agencies orchestrated a coup to remove Mossadegh from power. The rationale, as stated in the video, was a fear that Mossadegh would align Iran with the Soviet Union and to allow American oil companies access to the Iranian market.

This coup cemented the power of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, who was backed by the West. For the next 26 years, the Shah, with US support, initiated modernization efforts including infrastructure development, land reforms, improved education, and granted women the right to vote. These rapid changes, coupled with substantial oil wealth, led to significant societal transformations. However, these reforms were not universally beneficial, and some religious leaders perceived them as a threat to traditional Islamic values. The Shah subsequently increased political control, utilizing a feared secret police force trained with American assistance to suppress opposition. His opulent lifestyle and pro-Western policies ultimately sparked widespread riots, strikes, and protests.

III. The Islamic Revolution & Hostage Crisis (1979-1980s)

The culmination of these tensions resulted in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile and established an Islamic Republic, fundamentally altering Iran’s political and ideological orientation. This marked a dramatic shift in the US-Iran relationship, transforming allies into adversaries. Khomeini’s anti-American rhetoric played a significant role in this change.

The relationship was further fractured by the 1979 US embassy hostage crisis in Tehran, where Iranian students held dozens of Americans captive for over a year. This event fundamentally altered the dynamic, turning Iran into an enemy in the eyes of the US. In response, the US imposed economic sanctions, including a ban on all trade with Iran, even before the hostage crisis concluded.

IV. The Iran-Iraq War & Escalating Tensions (1980s-2015)

Shortly after the hostage crisis ended, Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, invaded Iran in 1980. Hussein perceived the new Iranian regime as weak and vulnerable. The ensuing Iran-Iraq War lasted eight years, resulting in over half a million deaths. While officially neutral, the US secretly supported Iraq with financial aid, weapons, and intelligence.

A further escalation occurred in 1988 when the US Navy shot down an Iranian civilian plane, mistakenly identifying it as a fighter jet, killing 290 people. Over time, anti-US and anti-Israel rhetoric intensified within Iran, with Iran denying Israel’s right to exist since the 1979 revolution. Iran viewed both the US and Israel as existential threats.

Since the revolution, Iran began supporting a network of groups, collectively known as the “Axis of Resistance,” including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, to expand its influence beyond its borders. Concerns about Iran’s potential development of nuclear weapons further strained relations and led to increased sanctions. Iran consistently maintained that its nuclear program was solely for peaceful purposes.

V. The Iran Nuclear Deal & Trump’s “Maximum Pressure” (2015-2020)

After over a decade of negotiations, a breakthrough was achieved in 2015 with the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran Nuclear Deal. Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions.

However, this agreement was short-lived. President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the JCPOA in 2018 and reimposed sanctions under a “maximum pressure” campaign. Trump characterized the deal as based on a “giant fiction” that Iran only sought peaceful nuclear energy. This policy severely weakened Iran’s already fragile economy, exacerbated by decades of sanctions and mismanagement.

VI. Soleimani’s Assassination, Gaza & Recent Escalations (2020-2025)

Tensions escalated further in 2020 with the US drone strike that killed Iranian military commander General Qasem Soleimani in Iraq. The US justified the strike by claiming Soleimani was responsible for attacks on Americans in the region.

The October 7th, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza further complicated the situation. Iran publicly supported Hamas, though it denied direct involvement in the attack. Israel responded with sustained attacks in Gaza and against Iranian allies and proxies.

In June 2025, the UN’s nuclear watchdog reported that Iran had breached its nuclear obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. This led to a series of strikes by Israel on Iran, culminating in a 12-day war and direct US involvement, including airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The stated objective was to destroy Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity. The UN reimposed sanctions in September 2025 due to increased Iranian nuclear activity.

VII. Protests & Internal Unrest (Late 2025)

The deteriorating economic conditions, fueled by sanctions, triggered widespread protests across Iran at the end of December 2025. Demonstrators chanted slogans against Supreme Leader Khamenei and some called for the return of the exiled son of the former Shah, Reza Pahlavi. The regime responded with a violent crackdown, resulting in thousands of deaths.

US President Donald Trump expressed support for the protesters and warned the regime against violence. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed Trump for the protests and deaths. While some Iranian opposition figures welcomed Trump’s support, others expressed unease about increased American intervention. Regional countries, particularly those in the Persian Gulf, expressed concerns about being caught in the crossfire of a potential US-Iran conflict.

Conclusion:

The US-Iran relationship has undergone a dramatic transformation from alliance to enmity, driven by oil, political upheaval, ideological differences, and security concerns. The cycle of sanctions, escalation, and conflict has created a deeply unstable situation with regional and global implications. The recent protests within Iran, coupled with ongoing nuclear concerns and regional tensions, suggest that the future of this relationship remains highly uncertain and fraught with risk. The video highlights a complex history where perceived threats, economic interests, and ideological clashes have consistently shaped the trajectory of this volatile relationship.