The United States and Iran: Prospects for Normalization.

Abstract

For the United States, Iran has been transformed from a major strategic asset into a significant strategic threat. The US has broken diplomatic relations with Iran and attempted, with mixed results, to punish it economically, isolate it politically, and deter it militarily. This confrontational approach is no longer in the US national interest and recent changes in Iran offer an opportunity to improve the US-Iranian relationship. Progress will depend on mutual perceptions of shared interests, the outcome of Iran's internal political struggle, and the ability of the US to respond rationally to positive signs from Iran. Even then, normalization will not come quickly or easily. It will require steady, long-term US effort and will be complicated by two decades of hostility and by domestic political dynamics in both countries that hinder rational policy debate.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 07, 1999
Accession Number
ADA364049

Entities

People

  • William M. Harris

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Economic Sanctions
  • Foreign Military Sales
  • Geography
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • Ussr
  • War Colleges
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security
  • Strategic Security Studies