Relationship dossier
Iran
United States
Relationship assessment
Sustained confrontation, punctuated by nuclear diplomacy and a major international agreement
Iran toward United States
-85Iranian government policy toward the United States has included the 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and support for regional armed groups that have attacked U.S. forces. Iran also negotiated the 2015 nuclear agreement with the United States and other powers, while disputes over its nuclear activities and regional policy have remained central.
United States toward Iran
-85The United States severed diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980 and has imposed extensive sanctions. It negotiated the 2015 nuclear agreement but withdrew from it in 2018 and restored sanctions. The 2020 U.S. killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani further intensified bilateral tensions.
Overall relationship
-85The enduring relationship is substantially adversarial, shaped by the absence of diplomatic relations, extensive U.S. sanctions, security confrontations, and disputes over Iran's nuclear activities and regional role. The 2015 nuclear agreement demonstrated that direct negotiation was possible, but the U.S. withdrawal and renewed sanctions underscored the fragility of that cooperation.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Iran–United States relations have been marked by sustained confrontation since the 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the subsequent severing of diplomatic relations. The countries have also engaged in direct nuclear diplomacy, culminating in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sanctions, while security disputes and regional conflicts have continued to shape the relationship.
Areas of tension
- Iran's nuclear program and the future of nuclear restrictions
- U.S. sanctions and their effects on Iran
- Iranian support for regional armed groups and threats to U.S. forces
- The 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy and the absence of diplomatic relations
- The U.S. killing of Qasem Soleimani in 2020
Key developments
Iranian students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, beginning the hostage crisis.
The United States severed diplomatic relations with Iran.
Iran and the United States, alongside other parties, concluded the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran's nuclear program.
The United States announced its withdrawal from the JCPOA and moved to restore sanctions on Iran.
A U.S. strike killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and effectiveness of indirect diplomatic contacts vary over time.
- The extent of Iranian government control over armed groups operating in the region is contested.