The relationship between the United States and Iran has been a rocky one since 1979. It is difficult to imagine why any administration would hold talks with Iran, given their history.
In early 1979, the Shah of Iran is ousted from power and the Ayatollah Khomeini is returned from exile to be placed in religious rule of Iran. He begins to spew hate for Americans and all Western Culture. He calls for any and all meeting this criteria to be expelled from the country.
In November of 1979, young militants, with the blessing of the Ayatollah, storm the US embassy and take 63 Americans hostage.
(An US Embassy is classified as US territory, American Soil. This is technically an act of war. In retaliation, Jimmy Carter banned the purchase of Iranian Oil. This ban is in still in effect this day. A rescue mission authorized by Jimmy Carter to retrieve the hostages by use of Special Forces failed.)
The hostages were held captive for 444 days. The hostages were not released until just prior to the inauguration of Ronald Reagan.
During the Reagan administration, secret talks for weapon sales were held with Iran during the Iran/Iraq war in an effort to free American hostages held in Lebanon. The profit from said sales were funneled to Nicaraguan rebels. This became known as the Iran / Contra Scandal, leading to many resignations and an investigation by Congress.
In 1987, the US entered the conflict between Iran and Iraq in order to protect shipping lanes.
Aid was extended to Iraq at this time and led the conflict to a stalemate.
In 2003, Iran was discovered to have begun the quest for nuclear capabilities, causing concern in the United States and Europe.
In 2015, Iran threatened blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, if they did not receive a favorable deal from the US. About 20% of the world’s oil travels through the Strait of Hormuz, causing alarm in the European Community as well.
This weekend, Iran has sent an armada of seven to nine ships, some armed, to Yemen to resupply the Houthi rebels there.
Saudi Arabia, our ally, along with a coalition of other countries, are currently involved in a navel blockade and airstrikes against the Houthis.
Talks between the United States and Iran have continued to address the subject of nuclear capability and the removal of sanctions against Iran over the last twelve years, leading to John Kerry’s recent round with the Iranian administration to unreasonably appease a country that has a long history of being less than trustworthy.
This attempt to come to an agreement with the loose cannon that is Iran can be likened to trying to calm and pet a rabid animal by offering it water.
The ability to reason is not available. It boggles the mind as to why it is being attempted at all.
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About the author, Candace Hardin: Candace Hardin resides in Atlanta, Georgia. She fluent in Spanish and a student of Latin and history. She is a columnist on PolitiChicks.tv. and has a blog, kandisays.blogspot.com. Originally from North Carolina, her writing and beliefs have been heavily influenced by the Appalachian culture and tradition. View all articles by Candace Hardin
