The relationship between the U.S. and Iran has been marked by extended periods of conflict and hostility. The tension intensified in 2018, when the U.S. withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),[1] and the reinstatement of rigorous sanctions as part of the ‘Maximum Pressure’ campaign, followed by the targeted killing of Qasem Soleimani by the U.S. in 2020.[2] This marked a significant shift in U.S. actions toward Iran as it directly engaged in the killing of a senior Iranian military figure.
Since 2026, following the Israel-Iran conflict, the U.S. administration’s focus has shifted from Iran’s nuclear program to a wider struggle for regional dominance, the security of Israel, and the balance of power in the Middle East.
