Document Type : Original Article from Result of Thesis
Highlights
Introduction
The relationship between the United States and Iran has been extensively studied through various theoretical frameworks. Researchers have offered numerous interpretations regarding the origins and underlying causes of the longstanding conflict between the two nations. Analyzing the Iran-US relations necessitates considering a multitude of influential factors. The complexity of these relations is compounded by numerous variables across diverse fields, posing challenges to a comprehensive representation of the subject. This study aims to rearrange the influential variables affecting the Iran-US relations.
Methodology
Interviewing experts and stakeholders is a pivotal method for analyzing and scrutinizing the multifaceted aspects of a phenomenon. This study employs classic grounded theory, emphasizing the researcher’s openness during interviews to accurately capture the interviewees’ perspectives. Unstructured interviews were conducted to facilitate respondents’ expressions of their understandings and interpretations regarding US-Iran relations. The selection of experts followed two strategies: purposeful sampling of university faculty members and PhD graduates and candidates with relevant research experience, followed by snowball sampling to include additional knowledgeable participants. The sample size was determined based on theoretical saturation, ceasing further interviews when new data no longer introduced novel concepts. The participants were informed about the study’s purpose and topic via telephone or email prior to the interview. When a date was set, the interview was conducted through phone calls or Google Meet, lasting between 45 to 90 minutes. The unstructured nature of the interviews allowed for an in-depth exploration of the participants’ views, facilitating a richer understanding of the US-Iran relationship dynamics. Each interview was transcribed in quotes to ensure accuracy in capturing the nuances of the respondents’ insights.
Findings and Results
The influential factors in the US-Iran relations, derived from the interviews, were transcribed and categorized within a framework of events. From these events, higher-level concepts were extracted and organized into related categories. One primary identified category was the distinct political structure of the Islamic Republic, characterized by the dual components of republicanism and Islamization. Republicanism, in its secular form, denotes the determination and the power of reason in majority rule, while Islamization reflects divine will as interpreted by Iran’s revolutionary leaders, incorporated into Iran’s Constitution post-Islamic Revolution. Concepts such as political structure, structural opposition, and Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) fall under this category. Another significant category is "revisionism in international relations," encompassing Iran’s view of the current international system as unjust and rapidly changing. The external affairs branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), known as the Quds Force, and the support of the Islamic Republic’s proxy militias are among the related topics in this category. The Islamic Republic upholds the view that the era of Western dominance is over and that the "look to the east" policy should be a top priority of Iran’s foreign policy. Sustaining hegemony, revisionism, "look to the east," and the Axis of Resistance are among the variables in this topic listed under the category of "revisionism in international relations." Further variables relate to the Middle Eastern strategies and tactics of the two countries, evident in Iran’s opposition to Israel, encapsulated in the category of the "Abraham Accords." Think tanks and lobbies, the Zionist lobby, and peace in the Middle East are some of these concepts grouped under this category. the roots of the conflict, Tehran-Washington relations process, constant tension, and limited interaction were some of the other concepts in the Iran-US relations. These factors, which shape the roots of the Iran-US conflict, should be analyzed historically and as a process influenced by time and can be categorized under “burden of the past”. The historical burden of the US-Iran relationship provides a backdrop for understanding the current state of affairs. Lastly, the "ideological opposition" category, perhaps the most crucial, includes national interests, anti-imperialism, anti-Zionism, enemy/other, and identity. The deep-seated ideological differences contribute significantly to the persistent conflict between the two states.
Conclusion
The ideological opposition between the US and Iran is the central category influencing their relations. The Islamic Revolution positioned Iran against one of the US’s long-standing regional allies, resulting in a protracted international conflict. Revolutionary ideologies require self-reform and adaptation to survive and thrive within the contemporary international system. For significant progress towards an agreement, Iran should embrace intellectual reasoning, acknowledge the realities of the international system and accept the differences in views voiced by other states, and moderate its anti-Western stance. Concurrently, the US should recognize Iran as a determining and actor and acknowledge its regional role in fostering stability and peace. In this path, addressing a suitable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is critical for both sides. Enhancing cultural exchanges and subsequently developing economic interactions can serve as incremental steps towards a comprehensive roadmap for the Iran-US relations.
Subjects
