Foreword
The United Stateshas had stormy relations with Iranever since Islamic fundamentalists overthrew the U.S.-backed Shah in 1979 and,later that year, took 66 Americans in the U.S.embassy in Tehranhostage for 444 days. During the 1980s, the United States supported Iraqin its war against Iran.In the 1980s and 1990s, Iran’sinvolvement in Shiite insurgencies, including Hezbollah activities in Lebanon, ran directly counter to U.S.interests in the region. Iran’s nuclear ambitions have also been a sourceof concern for the United States, although Iranian officials contendthat their nuclear program is purely for civilian energy-supply purposes.President George W. Bush has stated, however, that the United…
