USA, IRAN & the MIDDLE EAST

I. US – IRAN RELATIONS

BRIEF OVERVIEW

The United States and Iran have had a very long relationship. I think one of the things that is frequently
missed is how deep that relationship is. There is a tendency among people who study this history to
fixate on two canonical dates: 1979 and 1953. The former being the Iran hostage crisis, when
radicalized students stormed the U.S. embassy and took American diplomatic personnel hostage for
over a year, and the latter being the year in which the CIA-backed coup against the popular and
constitutionally elected Prime Minister Mossadegh. I think that’s a shame because there’s a much
longer and richer history that precedes 1953 or 1979.

There is a long history of mutual fascination and admiration dating back to the 18th century, when
colonial Americans had a sort of romanticized image of Persia, and dating into the late 19th century,
when generations of Iranian reformists were fascinated by and inspired by American democracy and
constitutionalism.

Probably the highest point in the relations between the two countries came in the first 20 years of the
20th century, when you had a very popular treasurer general by the name of Morgan Shuster, who was
sent over in 1911 to reorganize Iran’s finances and became a sort of hero to the Iranian constitutional
movement. As well as in 1919, when the Wilson administration quite forcefully and vocally opposed
British attempts to turn Iran into a de facto protectorate. There were pro-American riots in the streets
of Iran in 1919. That’s only 100 years ago. That was the world that was lost after 1953, and I think too
much of a fixation on recent events and times obscures that fact that this has been a long and very
positive relationship in many ways.

US – IRAN RELATIONS TIMELINE

1. 1921- Reza Khan names himself shah of Persia

Reza Khan, a military officer in Persia’s Cossack Brigade, names himself shah of Persia after staging a
coup, backed by the British, against the government of the Qajar Dynasty. He begins to implement a
series of reforms aimed at modernizing the country, which include building a national railroad system
and implementing a secular education system. At the same time, he censors the press, suppresses trade
unions and bans political parties. Later in his rule, he bans the hijab and encourages western dress.

2. 1925- Ahmad Shah is deposed

Already living in exile, Ahmad Shah, the Qajar dynasty’s final ruler, is deposed, and an assembly votes in
Reza Khan (who had adopted the last name Pahlavi) as the new shah.
Downfall of Ahmad Shah

Ahmad Shah was formally crowned on 21 July 1914, upon reaching his majority. He attempted to fix
the damage done by his father by appointing the best ministers he could find. He was, however, an
ineffective ruler who was faced with internal unrest and foreign intrusions, particularly by the British
Empire and Russian Empire. Russian and British troops fought against the Ottoman Empire forces in
Persia during World War I.
3. 1935 – Persia is officially renamed Iran
In 1917, Britain used Persia as the springboard for an attack into Russia in an unsuccessful attempt
Reza
to Khanthe
reverse asks other Revolution
Russian nations to of call1917.
Persia
The“Iran”
newlyinborn
formal diplomatic
Soviet correspondence.
Union responded Also, by the
by annexing
mid-’30s,ofReza
portions Khan’s
northern dictatorial
Persia approach
as buffer beginslike
states much to cause dissent.
its Tsarist predecessor. Marching on Tehran,
the Soviets
4. 1941 extracted ever more
– Reza Khan humiliating
is forced out concessions from the Persian government – whose
ministers Ahmad Shah was often unable to control. The weakness of the government in the face of
Although
such Reza by
aggression Khan declares
an atheist Iran apower
foreign neutral powerseething
sparked during anger
Worldamong
War II, Iran’s British-controlled oil
many traditional
interests are largely maintained by German engineers and technicians, and Khan refuses to expel
Persians.
German citizens despite a request by Britain. In September 1941, following British and Soviet occupation
By
of 1920, theIran,
western government
Reza Shahhad virtually
is forced outlost all power
of power. Hisoutside the capitalReza
son, Mohammad and Ahmad Shah had
Shah Pahlavi, lost him
succeeds
control of the situation. The Anglo-Persian Agreement, along with new political parties, further
on the throne.
immobilized the country. The Moderates and Democrats often clashed, particularly when it came to
5. 1949
minority rights–and
Thesecularism.
shah’s powers The are expanded
debates between the two political parties led to violence and
even
Shahassassinations.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi survives an assassination attempt. Afterward, he calls for the convening
of aweak
The Constituent
economicAssembly.
state of The group
Persia amendsShah
put Ahmad the nation’s constitution at
and his government to the
givemercy
the shah the power to
of foreign
dissolve the parliament.
influence; they had to obtain loans from the Imperial Bank of Persia. Furthermore, under the Anglo-
Persian
6. Agreement, Persia received
1951 – Nationalizing the oilonly a small fraction of the income generated by the Anglo-
industry
Persian Oil Company. On the other hand, the Red Army along with rebels and warlords ruled much of
the countryside.
 The Oil Cartel of the Past

In 1951, Iran nationalized its oil industry previously controlled by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (now
BP), and Iranian oil was subjected to an international embargo. In an effort to bring Iranian oil
production back to international markets, the U.S. State Department suggested the creation of a
consortium
Lawmaker of major oilMosaddegh,
Mohammed companies. whoThe "Consortium for Iran" was subsequently
has gained considerable formed
political power, by the
pushes through a
following companies:
measure that nationalizes the British-owned oil industry in Iran. The same year, the nation’s legislative
body overwhelmingly nominates Mossadegh as prime minister, forcing the shah to appoint him to the
1. Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (United Kingdom) – This company became British Petroleum.
post.
2. Gulf Oil (United States)
7. 1953 - Mosaddegh overthrown
3. Royal Dutch Shell (Netherlands/United Kingdom)
The power struggle between Mosaddegh and the shah comes to a head when the shah attempts to
4. Mosaddegh
dismiss Standard Oil Co.his
from of California
position – (SoCal)
a move (United
urged byStates) – Became
the U.S. Central Chevron in 1984.
Intelligence Agency.  Protesters
take to the streets, forcing the shah to flee the country. But the shah returns to Iran when Gen.
5. Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey (Esso) (United States) – Became Exxon, which renamed itself
Fazlollah Zahedi — with backing from the CIA — overthrows Mosaddegh in an August coup d’etat.
ExxonMobil.
8. 1957 – The creation of Iran’s intelligence organization
6. Standard Oil Co. of New York (Socony) (United States) – Became Mobil, which was acquired
by Exxon
U.S. and Israeli in 1999 to
intelligence form ExxonMobil.
officers work with Iran to set up SAVAK, an Iranian intelligence organization.
The organization is later blamed for the torture and execution of thousands of political prisoners and
7. Texaco (United States)
violent suppression of dissent, according to Amnesty International.
Preceding the 1973 oil crisis, the Seven Sisters controlled around 85 per cent of the world's petroleum
9. 1963 – The White Revolution
reserves. Since then, industry dominance has shifted to the OPEC cartel and state-owned oil and gas
companies
The in emerging-market
shah implements the “Whiteeconomies, such asan aggressive campaign of social and economic
Revolution,”
Westernization that included redistribution of land, increased rights for women and attempts
1. Saudi Aramco,
to improve literacy and health in rural areas. The changes are met with opposition from the clerical
rules and landlords.(Russia);
2. Gazprom Popular nationalist Ayatollah Khomeini is arrested in one of many crackdowns on
the shah’s opponents.
3. China National Petroleum Corporation;

4. National Iranian Oil Company;

Ayatollah Khomeini: Background
5. PDVSA (Venezuela);
Shia cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the Iranian revolution, first came to political
prominence in 1963 when
6. Petrobras heand
(Brazil), led opposition to the Shah and his program of reforms known as the
"White Revolution", which aimed to break up landholdings owned by some Shi’a clergy, allow
7. Petronas (Malaysia).
women to vote and religious minorities to hold office, and finally grant women legal equality in
marital issues.
In 2007, KhomeiniTimes
the Financial declared that
called the "the
these Shahnew
hadSeven
"embarked on the destruction of Islam in
Sisters".
Iran" and publicly denounced the Shah as a "wretched miserable man."

10. September 8, 1978 – Black Friday

A day earlier, the shah had imposes martial law in an attempt to quell ongoing protests against his
authoritarian rule. On September 8, thousands gather in Jaleh Square in Tehran, and security forces fire
on the protesters. The death toll is unknown. Estimates range from several dozens to hundreds killed.

11. January 16, 1979 – The shah flees

Protests continue and the shah, who was seen by many as a puppet of the U.S. and the UK, is forced to
flee Iran amid the intensifying unrest. He travels to a number of countries before entering the U.S. to
receive cancer treatment.

12. February 1, 1979 – Ayatollah Khomeini returns from exile

Islamic nationalist Ayatollah Khomeini returns from France, where he was exiled for more than 14 years
because of his opposition to the shah’s regime. He encourages the brewing revolution.

13. April 1, 1979 – Iran becomes a theocratic republic

Under Ayatollah Khomeini’s guidance, Iran declares itself a theocratic republic guided by Islamic
principles, and a referendum is held to name it the Islamic Republic of Iran.

14. May 5, 1979 – The Revolutionary Guard Corps is formed

Ayatollah Khomeini issues a decree calling for the formation of a force that would apprehend people
involved in counterrevolutionary activities, defend Iran against foreign forces and support revolutionary
movements around the world. In the 1980s, one of the now-eight branches of the IRCG– the Quds
Force– is created. The group of elite military forces specializes in foreign operations.

15. November 4, 1979 – Storming of the embassy

Islamic students who were followers of Ayatollah Khomeini storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking
hostage 52 American employees and demand that the shah return from receiving medical treatment in
the United States to face trial in Iran. The hostage situation ignites a crisis between the United States
and Iran.

16. April 1980 – The hostage crisis

Iran and the United States sever diplomatic ties over the hostage crisis.

17. July 1980 – The shah dies

After traveling from the U.S. to Panama and then to Egypt, the shah dies in exile.

18. September 1980 – The Iran-Iraq War

Iraq invades Iran after years of disagreements over territory, notably oil-rich border regions and the
Shatt al-Arab waterway.

19. 1981 – U.S. hostages are released

Following negotiations mediated by Algeria, the U.S. hostages were released after 444 days of captivity,
just minutes after Ronald Reagan is sworn in as president.

Origins of the Iran-Iraq War

The roots of the war lay in a number of territorial and political disputes between Iraq and Iran. Iraq
wanted to seize control of the rich oil-producing Iranian border region of  Khūzestān, a territory
inhabited largely by ethnic Arabs over which Iraq sought to extend some form of suzerainty. Iraqi
president Saddam Hussein wanted to reassert his country’s sovereignty over both banks of the Shaṭṭ
al-ʿArab, a river formed by the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that was historically the
border between the two countries.

Saddam was also concerned over attempts by Iran’s Islamic revolutionary government to incite
rebellion among Iraq’s Shiʿi majority. By attacking when it did, Iraq took advantage of the apparent
disorder and isolation of Iran’s new government—then at loggerheads with the United States over
the seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehrān by Iranian militants—and of the demoralization and
dissolution of Iran’s regular armed forces.
 20. 1985 – Hezbollah is formed

Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based political party and militant group, issues its founding manifesto. The group,
which opposes Israel and Western involvement in the Middle East, receives substantial financial
support and training from Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It is largely seen as a proxy for
Iran, and the U.S. has designated it a terrorist organization.

21. 1985 – 1987 – Iran-Contra

The United States covertly seeks to sell arms to Iran. The money from the sales was supposed to be in
exchange for seven American hostages being held by Iranian-backed militants in Lebanon, but some of
the money is used to fund militia groups known as the Contras, which were trying to overthrow the
socialist regime in Nicaragua. The revelation of the administration’s plan, which went against a
Congressionally approved law banning federal money from being given to the Contras, becomes the
biggest scandal of the Reagan presidency. The scandal becomes known as the Iran-Contra affair.

22. July 1988 – U.S. shoots down Iranian airplane

An American navy ship, the USS Vincennes,  shoots down an Iranian civilian plane in the Persian Gulf,
killing all 290 passengers and crew. The U.S. later apologizes and agrees to financial compensation for
the victims families, saying the civilian plane was mistaken for an attacking military jet.

23. July 1988 – Iran-Iraq War ceasefire

Iran accepts United Nations Security Council Resolution 598, leading to a cease-fire in the Iran-Iraq War.

Airline
24.655
June & 1989
Iran-Iraq Ceasefire
– Ayatollah Connection
Khomeini dies
Iranian Airline 655 vs Pan Am Flight 103
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26. 1995 – U.S. imposes broader sanctions
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), arrest warrants were issued for two Libyan nationals in November
In May 1989, Iran sued the United States in the International Court of Justice for compensation for
The Clinton
1991. In 1999, administration expands sanctions
Libyan leader Muammar that wereover
Gaddafi handed putthe
in place
two menon Iran during
for trial the Iran-Iraq
at Camp Zeist, War,
the victims and the destruction of the plane. The two governments reached a settlement in 1996;
placing a complete
Netherlands, oil and trade
after protracted embargo on
negotiations and UNIran. The U.S.
sanctions. accuses Iran of al-
In 2001, Abdelbaset sponsoring
Megrahi, aterrorism,
the U.S. did not accept liability but “expressed deep regret over the loss of lives” and agreed to pay
committing human rights abuses and seeking to sabotage the Arab-Israeli peace
Libyan intelligence officer, was jailed for life after being found guilty of 270 counts of murder in process.
$61.8 million to the victims’ families.
connection with the bombing.
27. 1997 - Khatami elected president and Soleimani heads the Quds
The shooting down of Flight 655 also coincided with Iraq’s increased use of chemical weapons in its
In 2003, Gaddafi accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing and paid compensation to the
Mohammad
war with Iran,Khatami,
prompting who Iranran
to on pledges
agree of political,
to a ceasefire twosocial
months andlater.
economic reform, is elected as Iran’s
families of the victims, although he maintained that he had never given the order for the
president. Gen. Qassem Soleimani also becomes the head of the Quds Force.
To this day, many hard-liners
attack. Acceptance in the Iranian
of responsibility was partgovernment
of a series ofbelieve the incident
requirements laid was
out byintentional.
a UN resolution
28. 2002
in order – “Axis of
for sanctions evil” Libya to be lifted. Libya said it had to accept responsibility due to
against
Megrahi's status as a government employee.

To better understand the difference of the two tragedies watch the YouTube video titled: IR 655:
22 years later, US will not apologize.
In his January State of the Union speech, U.S. President George W. Bush refers to Iran as part of an “axis
of evil,” saying the country is actively pursuing weapons of mass destruction. The speech is met with
anger in Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi responds by calling President Bush’s comments
“arrogant” and saying Iran sees them as “interference in its internal affairs.”

29. 2003 – Iran admits to plutonium production

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran admits to plutonium production, but the agency says
there is no evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons. Iran agrees to more rigorous U.N.
inspections of nuclear facilities.

30. 2005 – Ahmadinejad becomes president of Iran

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the hardline Islamic mayor of Tehran, who campaigned as a champion of the
poor and pledged to return to the values of the revolution of 1979, defeats one of Iran’s elder statesmen
in presidential elections.

31. 2006 – Ahmadinejad reaches out to Bush

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sends a letter to President Bush calling for ways to ease
tensions over Iran’s nuclear program, but continues to defy U.N. deadlines to halt uranium enrichment
activities. Ahmadinejad insists the nuclear program is for civilian energy purposes only.

32. 2007 – Ahmadinejad visits the U.S.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visits the United States and accuses Israel of occupation and
racism during a speech to the U.N. General Assembly.

The United Nations announces new economic sanctions against Iran, targeted to impact the country’s
military and halt Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.

A U.S. National Intelligence Estimate report finds that Iran stopped developing nuclear weapons in
2003, but continues to enrich uranium and could still develop atomic arms in the future.

33. 2008 – IAEA calls Iran’s uranium enrichment a ‘serious concern’

The International Atomic Energy Agency releases a report saying Iran’s suspected research into the
development of nuclear weapons remained “a matter of serious concern.” European Union nations
agree to impose new sanctions against Iran.

34. 2009 – Obama administration agrees to talks with Iran

The Obama administration announced it would participate in talks with Iran and the United nation’s five
permanent members, breaking from the Bush administration. The talks eventually led to the Iran
nuclear deal, also known as the JCPOA, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

35. June – July, 2010 – U.S. and allies impose new sanctions

The U.N., U.S. and the European Union place further sanctions on Iran for its uranium enrichment
activity.

36. June 15, 2013 – Rouhani is elected

Hassan Rouhani, who was described as a moderate, is elected president of Iran.

37. September 27, 2013 – Obama calls Rouhani

President Barack Obama called Iranian President Rouhani, which was the highest level of contact
between the U.S. and Iran since 1979. The two discussed Iran’s nuclear program on the call.

38. January 2014 – Beginnings of a nuclear deal reached

Iran and the five U.N. permanent member nations reach an initial agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear
program. In the coming months the first steps of that deal were implemented and negotiations for a
more comprehensive plan continued.

39. March 2015 – Civil war breaks out in Yemen

Civil war breaks out in Yemen when a Saudi-led coalition launches airstrikes against Houthi rebels who
have taken control of the capital city of Sana’a. The Houthis are supported by Iran, and Saudi Arabia, a
U.S. ally in the Middle East, supports the Yemeni government. The U.S. sells weapons to Saudi Arabia,
which are then used in the armed conflict. Five years later, the U.S. will try and fail to kill a senior Iranian
military commander in Yemen the same day it successfully killed an Iranian general in Iraq.

40. July 14, 2015- U.S., Iran and other nations announce nuclear deal

Iran, the U.S. and the four other U.N. permanent members announce they have reached a
comprehensive deal regarding Iran’s nuclear program. Iran agrees to limit its uranium enrichment and
allow international inspectors into the country in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

41. July 16, 2016 – Lifting of sanctions

The U.S. and Europe lifted sanctions on Iran as promised in the nuclear deal. The very next day, the
Obama administration issued new sanctions against 11 people and companies with links to Iran’s
ballistic missile program.

42. 2017 – Trump extends sanctions waivers

The Trump administration renewed sanctions waivers that were part of the Iran nuclear deal.

43. May 8, 2018 – U.S. withdraws from the Iran nuclear deal

President Donald Trump announces the U.S. will withdraw from the Iran nuclear agreement and
implements a “maximum-pressure campaign” in an attempt to force Iran to negotiate a new deal. In
response, Iran says it will exceed the caps for uranium enrichment as outlined in the Iran nuclear deal.
International nuclear watchdogs later confirm Iran has exceeded the limits.

44. April 8, 2019- Trump designates the IRGC a terrorist organization

The Trump administration announces it will designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a
Foreign Terrorist Organization. It is the first time the U.S. declares part of another nation’s government
as a terrorist organization.

45. May – October 2019 – U.S.-Iran tension ramp up amid attacks on oil tankers
A series of attacks on oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz spark increased tensions between the U.S.
and Iran. The U.S. blames Iran for attacks on oil tankers that were sailing under the Saudi Arabian,
Japanese, Panamanian and British flags. In response, the U.S. attempts to seize an Iranian oil tanker.

46. November 2019 – Iranians riot over economic concerns

Over the course of four days, Iranians riot in the streets in opposition to an increase in oil prices.
Amnesty International estimates more than 300 people were killed in the government’s crackdown on
the demonstrations. The Trump administration sharply criticizes the Iranian government for how it
handles the protests.

47. December 31, 2019 – Militia members attack U.S. embassy in Baghdad

Iraqi demonstrators and Iran – backed militia members break into the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and set
fires in response to the American airstrike that killed members of an Iran-backed militia the previous
weekend.

48. January 3, 2020 – U.S. kills Gen. Soleimani

U.S. kills Iran’s top general Qassem Soleimani as well as Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a
drone strike at a Baghdad airport.

49. January 8, 2020 – Iran strikes bases in Iraq housing U.S. soldiers

Iran launches missiles on two bases in Iraq where U.S. soldiers are stationed in retaliation for
Soleimani’s killing; no casualties are reported. The same morning, a Ukrainian airliner crashes after
taking off from Iran. A U.S. official says Iran shot down the plane with two Russian surface-to-air
missiles.

50. January 9, 2020 – U.S. retaliates with sanctions

Trump announces his administration will impose new sanctions on Iran in response to the missile
strike. The next day, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin outline the
details of the sanctions, which target the construction, manufacturing, mining, and textiles industries.
The sanctions also name eight Iranian officials.

51. January 11, 2020 – Iran admits it shot down a civilian plane
Iranian Airline 655 vs Ukraine Airlines Flight 752

Canadians have been questioning who is at fault for the downing last Wednesday of a plane carrying
passengers from Canada, Iran and other nations.

Over the weekend, Iran admitted accidentally shooting down the Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752,
killing all 176 on
Iran admits it board.
shot down the Ukrainian airliner by mistake. The admissions sparks protests in Tehran
and elsewhere against Iranian leaders.
But some prominent figures in Canadian business and media have pinned part of the blame on the United
States. They say the U.S. provoked Iran by killing a top Iranian commander, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Michael McCain,
II. US-Saudi the billionaire CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, tweeted late Sunday that he was "very angry." Were
Relations
the passengers "collateral damage of this irresponsible, dangerous, ill-conceived behavior?" he asked.
BRIEF OVERVIEW
Charles Adler, a popular Canadian conservative talk-radio host, would not let Tehran or Washington off the
hook.
Saudi Arabia and the United States have a relationship that stretches back almost a century, since the
1933 kickoff
"Iran's of oil exploration
recklessness in the kingdom.
comes in response to the United States-ordered killing of Iran's architect of terror, the
head of their special Quds Force, Gen. Soleimani," Adler said in a recent show. "I'll go to my grave believing
Since then, the two countries have maintained a baseline of economic and security cooperation that has
those innocents who died aboard Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752 would not have died had it not been for
kept ties between them strong. Saudi Arabia is the US' largest foreign military sales customer, and the
Trump's decision to kill the general."
US has long had a physical and advisory military role in the kingdom.
Speaking to CBC, Scott Gilmore said, "I did see a direct line between the impeachment and the president
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in Iran downing major752.events. Saudi Arabia has always sought balance
between its role as a leader in the Arab world and its strong ties to the US.
But many in Canada's political and military establishment see the events differently.
During the final years of the Obama administration, "relations had undergone a period of difference of
"This is a failure of Iranian military planning," says retired Maj. Gen. David Fraser, who led Canadian combat
opinion", as stated by a senior advisor to Prince Salman last March. These differences of opinion were
operations during the war in Afghanistan. Iranian military leaders "knew they were going to strike into Iraq,
largely
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put theirSaudi Arabia's
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However, under the Trump administration, relations have warmed and the US is fully supporting Saudi
Arabia in its regional role.
https://www.npr.org/2020/01/13/796052702/some-canadians-are-angry-at-the-u-s-over-irans-downing-of-
flight-752
President Trump had maintained an extremely negative view of Saudi Arabia for years before being
sworn in as president, saying that he was "definitely not a big fan" of the kingdom, and that the US
should not be working to "support Saudi terrorists".

This position changed, underlined by an extremely cordial visit that that Deputy Crown Prince and
Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman made to Washington, DC.

In a statement after this meeting, bin Salman's senior advisor's statement touched on the various topics
discussed, which included an expansion of economic cooperation, an agreement that Trump's travel ban
was justified and was not a "Muslim ban", and the two leaders' agreement on "the same views on the
gravity of the Iranian expansionist moves in the region".

US-Saudi Relations Timeline

1. 1933 - EXPLORING FOR OIL

Standard Oil of California is granted a concession to explore for oil in Saudi Arabia. Its subsidiary that
began the exploration, California Arabian Standard Oil Company (CASOC), later came to be known as
the Arab American Company (ARAMCO). CASOC strikes oil in 1938.

Abdullah Sulaiyman, Saudi finance minister, and Lloyd N. Hamilton, lawyer and negotiator for Socal, sign
the historic oil concession agreement on May 29, 1933, in Khuzam Palace, Jeddah.
 2. 1940 - ESTABLISHING FORMAL RELATIONS

The US and Saudi Arabia establish full diplomatic relations with official acceptance of the first American
envoy to Saudi Arabia. The US Embassy opened its doors in Jeddah for the first time in 1944, with Saudi
Arabia's first ambassador to the US taking up his duties in 1945.

3. 1945 - LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR DECADES-LONG PARTNERSHIP

King Abdulaziz meets US President Franklin D Roosevelt on board the USS Murphy in the Suez Canal to
cement ties between the two countries. Two core themes that emerged from this meeting helped
shape the decades-long partnership: security and oil. By this date, the US has already requested access
to build a military base in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

4. 1950 - ARAMCO AGREEMENT

Saudi Arabia and ARAMCO agree to a 50/50 profit sharing split in oil sales.

5. 1951 - MUTUAL DEFENSE ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT

The Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement is signed, providing the basis for US arms sales to Saudi
Arabia and for a permanent US military training mission in Saudi Arabia. The construction of military
installations in the kingdom begins.

6. 1957 - DHAHRAN AIR FIELD FOR MILITARY TRAINING

A formal agreement outlining US military training support to Saudi Arabia is signed. King Saud agrees to
renew the agreement for the US base in Dhahran.

7. 1973 OPEC OIL CRISIS

King Faisal decides that Saudi Arabia will take part in the oil embargo that OPEC imposed to support
the Arab position in the October War.

OCTOBER WAR: BACKGROUND

On October 6, 1973, hoping to win back territory lost to Israel during the third Arab-Israeli war, in
1967, Egyptian and Syrian forces launched a coordinated attack against Israel on Yom Kippur, the
holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Taking the Israeli Defense Forces by surprise, Egyptian troops
swept deep into the Sinai Peninsula, while Syria struggled to throw occupying Israeli troops out of
the Golan Heights. Israel counterattacked and recaptured the Golan Heights. A cease-fire went into
effect on October 25, 1973.

8. 1974 - OIL EMBARGO LIFTED

Oil embargo lifted as Israel signed the First Egyptian-Israeli Disengagement Agreement with Egypt and
negotiations with Syria were underway.
First Egyptian-Israeli Disengagement Agreement

This agreement establishes a zone of separation and calls for the disengagement of forces. This
agreement was also known as the Sinai Separation of Forces Agreement (later known as Sinai I).
Under its terms, Israel withdrew its forces from the areas west of the Suez Canal held since the
October 1973 ceasefire and also pulled back several miles on the Sinai front east of the canal, where
three roughly parallel security zones were created, each about six miles wide, for Egyptian, UN, and
Israeli buffer zones. The UN Zone was occupied by the Second United Nations Emergency Force
(UNEF) created by UN Security Council Resolution 340.
 9. 1975 - ARMS AGREEMENT

Saudi Arabia and the US sign $2bn worth of military contracts.

10. 1979-88 SAUDI – AFGHAN FOREIGN POLICY

Saudi Arabia, along with the US and Pakistan, supported Afghans in their resistance to the Soviet
occupation of their country. The three countries cooperated on intelligence and on an effort to arm and
supply the Afghan fighters. Saudi national, Osama Bin Laden, moves to join the fighters in 1979 and
begins supporting them financially and logistically one year later. In 1988 Bin Laden founded al-Qaeda.

11. 1988 - REPLACING ARAMCO

King Fahd issues a royal decree announcing the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) to replace
Aramco. Saudi Arabia had been gradually buying out the company's assets in an effort to control this
jewel in the crown of Saudi oil production.

12. 1990 - OPERATION DESERT SHIELD

Iraq invades Kuwait. Saudi Arabia declares war on Iraq and the US deploys approximately 500,000
troops to Saudi Arabia in Operation Desert Shield under the pretext of protecting Saudi Arabia from
possible Iraqi invasion. Bin Laden expresses his outrage at the presence of foreign troops so close to
Islam's holiest places.

13. 1991 - THE TROOPS STAYED

After Operation Desert Shield ended, US military presence was reduced from approximately 500,000
troops to 5,000, reflecting a US commitment to protecting Saudi Arabia and US interests in the region.

14. 1993-2001 BILL CLINTON BECOMES US PRESIDENT

Bill Clinton becomes US president in a post-Cold War world and seems to be focusing his foreign policy
energy on trying to resolve the Palestine-Israel conflict. Attention is soon diverted back to the threat of
al-Qaeda and similar groups as bin Laden's rhetoric is heightened and attacks in New York and
Mogadishu claim American nationals.

15. 1994 - OSAMA BIN LADEN EXPELLED

A little more than two years after Osama bin Laden was expelled from Saudi Arabia, he is stripped of his
citizenship. Bin Laden moved first to Sudan, which expelled him in 1996, and then to Afghanistan.

16. 1996 - DECLARATION OF WAR

Bin Laden declares his formal "holy war" against the United States. This announcement is made from
his base in Afghanistan.

17. 2001 SAUDI-US RELATIONS TURN SOUR

The September 11 attacks turn public opinion in the US against Saudi Arabia when it is announced that
15 out of the 19 attackers were Saudi nationals. It was later revealed that a number of Saudi individuals
had been financing al-Qaeda. The Bush administration recognizes that Bin Laden poses an equal threat
to Saudi Arabia and security cooperation between the two countries continues.
 18. 2009-2017 BARACK OBAMA SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT

Obama served two terms that witnessed increased tension between the US and Saudi Arabia. The
tension centered around US negotiations with Iran, which were not viewed positively by Saudi Arabia ,
and later differences in opinion over perceived US inaction in Syria after the popular uprising against the
rule of President Bashar al-Assad.

19. 2011 - OSAMA BIN LADEN ELIMINATED

Osama bin Laden is killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan, by US special forces. Saudi Arabia's official reaction
was one of "hope ... that the elimination of the leader of the terrorist al-Qaeda organization would be a
step toward supporting international efforts aimed at fighting terrorism".

20. 2012 - US-IRAN TALKS

The initial meetings between US and Iranian officials to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme are held in
secret in Oman. Saudi Arabia was not informed at first, and when the news was made public, the Saudi
government issued a cautiously worded statement expressing hope that the agreement would improve
the situation in the region, "provided there is goodwill". However, the Saudi ambassador to London,
Prince Mohammed bin Nawwaf bin Abdulaziz, called the deal "appeasement" and his senior advisor,
Nawaf Obaid, told a think-tank meeting that the Saudi government had known about the secret
meetings in Muscat, and that there was anger over how the matter was handled, "We were lied to,
things were hidden from us ... The problem is not with the deal struck in Geneva, but how it was done."

21. 2014 - OIL MARKET CRASH

The US starts shale oil production, causing Saudi oil exports to fall by 50 percent. Oil prices start
crashing from $110 a barrel in mid-2014 to less than $27 a barrel in early 2016.

22. MARCH 2016 - SAUDI ARABIA WARNS US

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, visits Washington, DC, and informs the administration
that if Congress were to pass legislation allowing families of victims of the September 11 attacks to
hold the Saudi government responsible in US courts, Saudi Arabia would be selling up to $750bn in
treasury securities and other US assets to avoid them being frozen.

23. SEPTEMBER 2016 - US CONGRESS PASSES LEGISLATION

US Congress passes legislation that would allow the families of victims of the September 11 attacks to
sue the Saudi government. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement decrying the
legislation and pointing out that, "the erosion of sovereign immunity will have a negative impact on all
nations, including the United States".

24. MARCH 2017 - MEETING DONALD TRUMP

Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits Washington
and has a warm and cordial meeting with US President Donald Trump. Among the topics that were
discussed was Iran and its influence in the region, as well as deepening economic cooperation between
the two nations. Early in 2016, Trump had said in a television interview that as president he "would want
to help Saudi Arabia ... I would want to protect Saudi Arabia. But Saudi Arabia is going to have to help us
economically."

25. APRIL 2017 - JAMES MATTIS, US DEFENSE SECRETARY, VISITS SAUDI ARABIA

Mattis reiterates his government’s support to the kingdom and its war on Yemen, which he described
as a good way to curb Iran’s influence in the region.

III. History of US & Iraq Relations (Please check the report video sorry)

1. 1910-58 - Genesis of U.S.-Iraqi Relations

2. 1958-79 - Managing Chronic Instability
3. 1979-89 - The Initial Challenge of Saddam Hussein
4. 1989-2003 - The Gulf War and Containment

IV. CURRENT NEWS ON the US, IRAN & MIDDLE EAST

A. IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL

COMMITMENTS SET OUT IN THE JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION

• Iran will only install 5,060 oldest and least efficient centrifuges at Natanz until 2026. Iran's
uranium stockpile was reduced by 98% to 300kg (660lbs), a figure that must not be exceeded
until 2031. It must also keep the stockpile's level of enrichment at 3.67%.

• Iran will redesign and rebuild a modernized heavy water research reactor in Arak. The
redesigned and rebuilt Arak reactor will not produce weapons grade plutonium.

• Research and development must take place only at Natanz and be limited until 2024. No
enrichment will be permitted at Fordo until 2031, and the underground facility will be converted
into a nuclear, physics and technology center. The 1,044 centrifuges at the site will produce
radioisotopes for use in medicine, agriculture, industry and science.

WHY HAS MR. TRUMP CALLED IT THE “WORST DEAL” AND AN “EMBARRASSMENT”?

He has argued that the Obama administration focused on Iran’s nuclear program while giving insufficient
attention to many other of Iran’s activities, including its support for President Bashar al-Assad’s
government in Syria, its intervention in the Yemeni civil war and the role of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary
Guards Corps in disrupting the region.

B. US – SAUDI RELATIONS

JAMAL KHASHOGGI AND US - SAUDI RELATIONS

Jamal Khashoggi was an outspoken voice on global issues and a critic of the Kingdom’s policies and the
royal family. Mr. Khashoggi entered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul, Turkey where
he was murdered and dismembered on October 2nd, 2018.

EFFECTS ON US - SAUDI RELATIONS

  The U.S. Senate and House have voted in favor of a bill to end supporting the Kingdom’s military
actions in Yemen, a conflict many say is just a proxy war between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
and Iran.
 The U.S. loses a strategic partner in a volatile region, oil prices will likely increase, and the
Kingdom foregoes future investments into the U.S. economy with a consequent loss of billions if
not trillions in lifetime trade.
 The Kingdom will then turn to Russia and China, two countries the U.S. is currently at odds with,
for security assistance, intelligence sharing, and arms trade.

Death of Qasem Soleimani

• One of Iran's most powerful men, Soleimani cut a highly controversial figure. He was head of the
Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, an elite unit that handles Iran's overseas operations -- and
one deemed to be a foreign terrorist organization by the US.

• Known as Iran's "shadow commander," Soleimani -- who had led the Quds Force since 1998 --
was the mastermind of Iranian military operations in Iraq and Syria.

EFFECTS OF THE DEATH OF SOLEIMANI TO SAUDI ARABIA AND IRAN

• Renewal of US-Saudi relations

• Boost the U.S.-Saudi military cooperation and arms sales

• More attacks on US personnel and assets

• Increased activities of terrorist groups

• Negative effect on Saudi’s internal affairs and relations to the Gulf region

IRAN HAS EXECUTED A MAN CONVICTED OF SPYING FOR THE CIA AND ISRAEL'S MOSSAD
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.

• Mahmoud Mousavi-Majd was accused of reporting on the movements of Iranian forces in Syria
and of spying on the Revolutionary Guards commander, Qasem Soleimani.

V. WHY IS THE US INTERESTED IN THE MIDDLE EAST?

VI. WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF THE US POLICIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST TO THE PHILIPPINES?