American-Iranian Relations: A Study of Foreign Policy

Abstract

This research essay outlines three major events in the US-Iran relationship deterioration
including the 1979 Islamic revolution, the Iranian hostage crisis and the Iran-Contra scandal. I
focus on how these three events shaped US foreign policy decisions towards Iran and why they
were key to the narrative at the time. To do this, one must have an understanding of each of the
events as well as a brief background of additional constraints during each event. Overall, each of
the three events outlined serves to prove that an inflexible government approach to foreign policy
is not the answer specifically when dealing with a very volatile country.