A Brief Timeline of Iran-United States Relations over the past 60+ years
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1953: Mossadeq overthrown
-Orchestrated by intelligence agencies in Britain and the United States, Iran’s Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadeq is removed from office in a coup
1979: Iranian revolution
-Mohammed Reza Pahlevi, ruler of Iran, leaves the country after a long period of strikes and demonstrations opposing his leadership. Ayatollah Khomeini returns to Iran and the Islamic Republic of Iran is established.
1979-81: United States Embassy hostage crisis
-Hostages are held in captivity for 444 days
1980: Rescue mission for Tehran hostages fails
1981: After 444 days, Tehran frees United States hostages
1985-6: Iran-Contra scandal
-United States covertly sends weapons to Iran, presumably to gain help from Tehran in the release of United States hostages held in Lebanon
1988: Iranian passenger plane shot down
-A United States warship shoots down an Iranian airliner, apparently under the impression that it was a fighter jet, killing all 290 passengers on their way to Mecca.
1997-2005: Presidency of Khatami
-Mohammed Khatami is elected in 1997, and indicates that he is willing to speak with the United States to work on improving relations, although there is no progress
2002: The Axis of Evil
-United States President George Bush publicly states that Iran is involved in an “axis of evil” with North Korea and Iraq, which outrages the Iranian people
2002 onwards: Sanctions and fears of nuclear threat
2005-13: Presidency of Ahmadinejad
2013: Phone call between Obama and Rouhani
2014: United States and Iran talks on Iraq