A brief history of US/Iran relations, for context, given the current situation:
1953: The CIA overthrows the democratically elected government
1957: The US gives Iran nuclear technology and education (the foundation of their current nuclear program)
1967: The US provides Iran with a five-megawatt nuclear reactor and weapons-grade enriched uranium fuel.
1968: Iran signs a nuclear non-proliferation treaty, ratified in 1970, that allows them to continue a civilian nuclear power program, but not develop weapons.
1972: Richard Nixon visits the Shah to ask him to guarantee US security interests in the region, allowing Iran to buy any weapon system it wants in return.
1976-1978: Over $8 billion (in current dollars) worth of weapons were delivered to Iran each year.
1979: A radical Islamic movement overthrows the US backed government. A mob of students overruns the US embassy in Tehran, taking 66 American diplomats and Marines hostage. Khomeini backs the hostage-takers, but 13 are released after a short period of time, many women and African Americans; Khomeini says they already face "the oppression of American society." Another is released for health reasons. Carter imposes sanctions on and freezes billions in Iranian assets. Five months after the embassy is seized, Carter ends diplomatic relations. A rescue mission fails, resulting in the killing of eight American crewmen.
1980-1988: Iraq starts a war with Iran to capitalize on the chaos. Reagan provides Baghdad with intelligence and resources. Iraq uses chemical weapons against Iran, and the US continues to support Saddam Hussein.
1981: Carter announces that the US and Iran have agreed on a settlement. The final hostages are allowed to return home on the day of Reagan's inauguration, after 444 days in captivity.
1984: The US designates Iran a state sponsor of terrorism and enacts massive sanctions.
1985-1986: Ronald Reagan illegally sold weapons to Iran, which he lied to the American public about, and, in defiance of Congress, covertly and illegally funneled that money to fund the CIA's support of a paramilitary group in Nicaragua (see the Iran-Contra scandal). Reagan claimed it was to get Iran to release 2 hostages, which they did, but they took 2 others, so Reagan had zero net gain, and broke a lot of laws in the process. Incidentally, William Barr is the one responsible for the pardons issued for the convictions from that scandal.
1988: US Navy warship shoots down Iran Air Flight 655. The Airbus A300 is a passenger plane carrying many pilgrims on their way to Mecca. All 290 people on board are killed.
1992-1997: The US imposes many more sanctions on Iran.
2009-2015: Obama, over the course of years, negotiates the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran, the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia, that prevents Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
2016: 10 US sailors ended up in Iranian territorial waters on two small boats are taken hostage, but released after less than 24 hours after being taken into custody. The United States and Iran announce a prisoner swap. 4 Americans prisoners in Iran are freed in return for clemency for at least 7 Iranians, most of whom are dual U.S.-Iranian nationals, who were convicted or awaiting trial in the United States. A 5th American is released separately. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirms Iran is adhering to the JCPOA, and the US lifts nuclear-related sanctions.
2017: Trump, during his first foreign visit since taking office, makes a speech holding Iran responsible for global extremism in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
2018: Trump, against the recommendations of a bipartisan Congress, the Pentagon, and nearly unanimous international outcry, unilaterally announces he is withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal and reimposes massive sanctions.
2019: The US, at the direction of Trump, designates the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a "terrorist organization." An Iraqi-born American citizen is killed on a base in Iraq. The US (Trump) blames an Iranian-backed militia inside Iraq, and fires on its bases in retaliation.
2020: Trump, without consulting Congress, and at the insistence of Mike Pompeo, assassinates Qasem Soleimani, the 2nd most powerful person in Iran, who also happens to be the most popular person in the government, turning him into a martyr. One of the consequences from this was that Iran, which was suffering from massive, violent protests (partially because of a dramatic increase in fuel prices, but also directed at Khameni), which were the biggest internal dissent since 1979, became unified behind Khameni, and is now the most solidified support that he has had. Trump repeatedly threatens to commit war crimes if Iran retaliates. Iran launches ballistic rockets at an Iraqi base; no American casualties are reported.
And now we're caught up.
