POL343Y5 Chapter Notes -Nuclear Program Of Iran, Iranian Reformists, Bastion
Document Summary
The united states has 3 objectives with respect to iran: restraining its external behaviour, moderating its domestic politics, and reversing its nuclear-weapons programme, policy should work towards all three. Objectives are in tension, containment isolates iranian reformists as well as the repressive elements of iranian society, and sanctions help rally public opinion around the regime and increase popular support for its nuclear ambitions. American efforts to promote political reform are used by the regime both to justify repression and to discredit the opposition. Iranian grievances go back to the american role in overthrowing iran"s democratically elected government in 1953, followed by washington"s backing of the shah for the next 26 years, and by. American support for saddam hussein"s war of aggression against iran, during which the us. Navy shot down an iranian civil airliner over international waters in the persian gulf. Iraq and afghanistan, the nuclear program now america"s dominant concern.