Public sentiment regarding US-Iran relations is largely negative, characterized by skepticism towards US foreign policies, historical grievances, and a desire for peaceful diplomacy. While many commenters express empathy for the Iranian people and disapproval of US military actions, there are nuanced calls for understanding the difference between the Iranian regime and its citizens, leading to mixed feelings of disappointment, frustration, and cautious optimism.

United States Government

Iranian Government

Iranian People

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ummmbacon

[deleted]

I believe that due to geography, Iran is a natural ally of the United States. The Iranian regime is our enemy - the Iranian people are not. We should act accordingly.

GitmoGrrl1

While I'm not particularly familiar with the US / Iran relationship (Canadian), the notion that Iran or other countries can't develop nuclear weapons doesn't make sense to me.

It just seems like a means to control other independent countries. I really doubt Iran would have been bombed if they held nukes.

I'm far more concerned of the USA and Russia with nukes than other countries.

WickedBad

I don't think there is a fix unless the USA changes their political stance of aggression and opposition.

As you know, the US overthrew the demoncratly elected Prime Minister in 1953 because the UK wanted to continue controlling Iran's oil production. The USA admit this. 

And as you know the US installed Pahlavi to control Iran. He was unpopular for good reason and that lead to a popular uprising and the leadership of Khomeini. 

All this is uncontroversial. Since then the USA has persistently applied economic sanctions against Iran. The USA has aggressively controlled and/or invaded multiple of Iran's neighbours giving them a reputation of being untrustworthy. Even just now the US allowed Israel to bomb a residential neighbourhood in Doha to attempt killing Hamas politicians that had been invited their by the US govt to sign a deal. Qatar is a close ally/proxy of the USA and has US supplied air defences that were deactivated during the attack (which is a further evidence of US duplicity). This is not new behaviour. The US backed Sadam and then flipped on him. The US backed the mudjahadein when it was convenient. 

Netanyahu has been saying for 20 years that Iran is a nuclear threat but Iran does not have nukes, Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non Proliferation treaty and has allowed Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to visit for years, and Iran signed the JCPOA which the USA unilaterally broke in 2018! Guess which neighbour has nukes but never signed the NPT and doesn't allow AEA inspectors. 

Then the USA proxy/ally Israel attacks Iran without legal or reasonable _cassus belli_ and many of those attacks were in residential neighbourhoods because people like scientists have families and don't sleep in military bases. If you look at the civilian deaths in the 12 day Israel-Iran it is obvious that one side targeted residential areas and one did not. 

 And then the USA bombed Iran also without justification or benefit to the USA. It's worth noting that Iran took that hit without significant retaliation except for a performative display of expensive fireworks. 

There were reports that just  prior to Oct 7 Iran was open in engaging in diplomatic talks with the USA, including talks about the NPT and now Iran has indicated clearly that it is open to negotiating another JCPOA as it nears its 10 year end of life. Pezeshkan has stated many times he wants diplomacy which is credible due to his moderate / reformist political position. The Supreme Council endorsed his election despite him being a moderate. And the official position of Khamenei is that Iran won't develop nuclear weapons and tbh I don't think they need them. It's very unlikely that Iran could ever be occupied by a land force due to its size and geography. It's like Afghanistan but with a population of 92 million. It's a nut that's near impossible to crack. 

On an aside the only country that has ever used nuclear weapons is the USA. By definition general nuclear weapons are defensive in nature. Due to the principle of mutually assured destruction they are only useful if a state is facing imminent destruction. States wish to attain nukes for security against aggressors. 

I'll anticipate that you'll mention Iran's allies in the region as though that is a problem. Everyone has allies which for some reason people label as "proxies" when they are enemies. It's the norm in the middle east. Even in Iraq the USA backed militias and the Iranian backed militias are both parts of the same security forces. In Syria there are groups that are variably allied with with four or five different countries. The USA backed al-Jolani is in control now after defeating the Russian backed al-Assad. So that Iran has allies in the region, as does the USA, does not preclude diplomacy. 

The UN advocates for diplomacy and a new deal and cessation of military hostilities. But for some reason the English language media is agnostic to that option. And the current US administration still threatens to attack Iran. 

So it seems to me that the first step would be for the USA to stop bombing Iran directly or through allies, stop the aggressive rhetoric by them and their allies, and start diplomatic negotiations about the JCPOA which Iran agreed to. This year Iran has only defended itself when attacked in 1:1 ratio. The ball is in the USA's court. 

I haven't specifically answered your questions because nothing can be done until the US tones down it's aggressive military stance and chooses to engage in diplomacy. 

Edit typos etc 

Edit btw I've got friends family on all sides of this mess including the country that cannot be named. 

[1953 coup] (https://www.npr.org/2019/01/31/690363402/how-the-cia-overthrew-irans-democracy-in-four-days)

[The 1979 revolution](https://www.history.com/articles/1979-iranian-revolution-causes)

[Israel bombs Doha](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250910-what-we-know-about-israel-s-attack-on-hamas-in-qatar)

[the USA breaks the JCPOA](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNITED_STATES_WITHDRAWAL_FROM_THE_JOINT_COMPREHENSIVE_PLAN_OF_ACTION)

[the USA bombing of Iran was illegal](HTTPS://WWW.INDEPENDENT.CO.UK/NEWS/WORLD/MIDDLE-EAST/IRAN-US-TRUMP-OPERATION-MIDNIGHT-HAMMER-ILLEGAL-B2775023.HTML)

[Trump open to attacking Iran](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgenq599kwo)

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The reasons for hostile relations between America and Iran start with what is now probably the most famous fact about Iran in the Cold War, the 1953 coup. But before that, there is some context to cover.

During WW2, the USSR and the UK invaded Iran due to fears that the reigning monarch at the time was going to join the Nazis. Iran fell very quick as much of the army did not fight and the monarch Reza Shah Pahlavi was ousted. 
After WW2 ended, the USSR remained in the North due to the emergence of local nationalist revolutionaries reprsenting minorities that had been mistreated by the Pahlavi's. They declared the independent states of Mahabad and South Azerbaijan.

Iran responded by exaggerating the Soviet threat to the USA, with the aim that America would respond by investing in Iran and becoming its ally. This is essentially what happened, to cut a long story short, and after the USSR withdrew and the separatists were defeated, the alliance between Iran and America was more or less formed. This alliance also emboldened the Shah to move against the democratic institutions within Iran, before the famous 1953 coup.

In 1946, prime minister Ahmad Qavam had begun to work closer with the Tudeh Party (the Communists). Quoting from historian Stephen McFarland in "A Peripheral View of the Origins of the Cold War: The Crises in Iran, 1941–47": '[American] Ambassador George Allen then schemed with the shah and several of his supporters to force Qavam to eject the Tudeh cabinet ministers, or, failing that, to overthrow him by means of a military coup.'

(to note, Qavam was no Socialist. He later purged much of the Tudeh. But the point that there was significant American influence in Iran at this time remains true).

This alliance also formed within the context of a deeper foreign domination over Iranian economics, primarily through oil concessions. These concessions gave Western companies notable influence over Iran's economy and often cheated the government into paying small taxes by abusing the "posted price" system (essentially they posted oil prices as cheaper than they actually were, to pay less tax/rent). 

This context is what led to the eventual election of Mossadegh in 1951, who then nationalised the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. Anti-American and Anti-British sentiments (especially the latter) were an important cause behind his victory because of the sheer influence it held in Iranian society. 

Mossadegh's conciliatory policies towards the Tudeh and nationalisation of Iranian oil caused America and Britain to work together to overthrow him. Mossadegh was however a very popular figure and the Shah was at first reluctant to dismiss him. However, there was an ongoing political crisis in Iran at the time. Between Mossadegh's popular government and pro-monarchist conservative forces, there were often very many clashes. This even resulted in Mossadegh's removal from office in 1952 (though popular rebellions resulted in the Shah returning him to power). In the context of this political turmoil and crisis, a referendum passed that gave Mossadegh emergency powers. The CIA and MI5 then responded by funding and supporting protests against Mossadegh which then escelated into his overthrow and the installation by the Shah of a prime minister that the CIA signalled was their preferred candidate.
 
The overthrow of Mossadegh began a period of near-absolute rule by the monarchy, where American influence was also unchecked. Khomeini would talk of this period by saying that  Iran was a de facto vassal state of America, that an American could kill the Shah and face no repercussions (a reference to the legal privileges afforded to Westerners under the Shah).

This series of affairs is what caused many Iranians to turn against America and would greatly inform the ideological thought of the Iranian revolution which was broadly anti-American and anti-Western. 

The Left (Marxists, Maoists, and others) and the Islamists/Khomeinists were all united in this regard. They both agreed that America was an imperialist power that held significant dominance in Iran, and also was instrumental in the dictatorship of the Pahlavis from 1953-1979 (Iran was, beside perhaps Turkey and Israel, America's biggest ally in the region at this point).

Anti-colonialism in general was also another reason as to why many Iranians opposed America. Obviously the cultural/political memory of Mossadegh was a major part of the equation, but many also kept in mind American actions in Vietnam, American backing of Israel from 1963 onwards, American support for colonial powers in their conflicts against Socialist movements, etc... Why Marxists opposed this is self-explanatory so I wont dwell on it, but for Khomeini, anti-colonialism was (and is) an essential part of his ideology. It is why Hezbollah, a Khomeinist organisation, has chosen to support indigenous radicals in Peru like the Shining Path ([yes, really](https://www.ict.org.il/UserFiles/ICT-peru-abancay-hezbollah-nov-16.pdf)) despite their status as an atheist movement. 

Further evidence of this comes from the Iran-Hostage crisis. For one the crisis, which is of course a key part of the conflict between the two states, came from fears that a repeat of Operation Ajax was coming after the Islamic revolution. But also, after the crisis started Khomeini ordered all Black hostages not involved in spying be released. The reason for this was Khomeini wanted to show that Iran had solidarity with all colonised groups. So Khomeinists opposed America because they saw it as a colonial power, and anti-colonialism is an integral part of Khomeinism (there is also American support for Israel, but I already mentioned that &gt;_&gt;)

After that there's the Iran-Iraq War. America had some relations with Iran during this war (Iran-Contra scandal) but by and large supported Iraq in its invasion of Iran. This of course did not exactly endear Iran to America. Just as significantly was America's role in the Tanker War. The Tanker War came from Iran noticing that the Gulf states were funding Iraq against Iran, so they responded by attacking Gulf shipping to try and force them to stop. Gulf ships responded by flagging themselves as American ships and thus getting America to bomb Iranian ships under the "Tanker War". This manouvere also did not endear America to Iran.

Finally, there is the Axis of Resistance. Iranian opposition to America drove the creation of the Axis of Resistance as a vehicle by which to fight against American influence and Israel. America saw/sees the AoR as its greatest enemy in the Middle East and at the risk of breaking the 20 year rule, is in a de facto state of war against them, with mixed results. 

Overall, these factors and events are what caused Iranian relations to degrade so much against America.

IamtheWalrus-gjoob

I feel sick to my stomach. This is not ok. We are not ok.

Mammoth_Tusk90

No_Baseball_3726

US people have been embarrassing in the inability to organize and put pressure on/take over a regime that keeps selling them out and behaving in the most rogue way possible

Due_Drawer8498

nomsain919

Relative_Safe_6957

couldn’t agree more. Trump is f@&amp;king Satan. 

prayers for Iran. stay safe. we’re so so sorry. 💚

Hutchidyl

alaf420

I am also in the US and have nothing but total respect for Iran.

ShiaLady

Why act like this is some new low? We’ve been blowing up the Middle East for decades. It was wrong then, it’s wrong now. Not like we were ever much better than this to be honest. But yes, thoughts with the people of Iran, and anyone else who may be affected by all this. None of us regular people in the US have hate for Iran.

smoor365

I also agree. Please know this was also illegal and against the United States Constitution. He is another tyrant doing what he wants and we’re trying to stop it

RealAndreaKlein

I get Trump is an idiot but don’t even think about saying he’s the only one who do this. Unfortunately any president would have done this due to our alliance with Israel. It’s sad but it’s the true

This is true with most countries. They are not their government it's two different things. We are just baggage handlers for Israel and I am so sick of seeing America stands with Israel signs because a lot of Americans do not.

Secure-Garbage

Also here to express this. I hate this. I had an Iranian roommate for a number of years, I know he moved back to Iran a few years back, and him and his mom is all i can think about. I wish for the end of this nonsense fast with bare minimum of damage and casualty

Objective-Voice-6706

American here! FUCK TRUMP AND FUCK ISRAEL

Chunk_Soup

Iran never attacked the USA despite our overthrowing Mossadegh in the 1950s. Iran never attacked the USA despite our propping up the Shah and his brutal SAVAK from then until the 1979 revolution. Iran never even directly attacked the USA in response to previous direct attacks on them by the U.S. military, like the airline bombing in 1988.

The only message things like this illegal, immoral, and indefensible bombing sends Iran (and the rest of the world) is that it doesn't matter if you're willing to act according to earlier agreements that limited nuclear technology to peaceful energy purposes only (which was happening before Cheeto Hitler's first term, when scrapped the deal that was signed under Obama) -- if the USA and Israel want to bomb you, they will.

I have literally never been more ashamed and angry than I am right now -- and I have lived through a lot of stupid American-started wars. I have always been able to be proud of my own grandfathers for fighting against the Nazis and the Fascists in WWII, but there is nothing of that pride left now. My grandfathers (and uncles and cousins, who fought in other wars at other times) truly fought for nothing, because it is an entirely unavoidable conclusion that there was nothing won or secured then, either. The Nazis and the Fascists never really went away, because the Nazis and Fascists are us Americans right now.

pspsps-off

Terribile smh. This administration and also the individuals not holding them accountable .  This goes for the USA and Israel.

Smart_Cook344

I am angry. All support to Iran. 

Whatever I can do to help, I am trying to do

brussianboi

American here as well. None of us want this. Even hardcore MAGA people don’t want this. This carries the long history of American administrations and warhawks constantly fucking around in the Middle East and making everything 1000x worse and we are fuckin sick of it.

WoodenNickle_

namast_eh

Does anyone know how we can contact people in Esfahan? Family there and we would like to know they’re safe

Sacarastic-one

Too late to apologize I'm afraid. Your people have had so much time. You've had so many chances to avoid this mistake. 2016, 2020, 2024. Hell, and it's not like americans didn't know. They already did the exact same with Iraq 20 years ago, and this president has already been president before. 

All you can do now is go and protest in every form.

2sinkz

Can we get an Iranian voice in here? Lots of white guilt over here.

MirrorStrange4501

A million times, this. So sorry, people of Iran. I no longer live in the US, but as a citizen of that shithole, I offer whatever solidarity and fellowship I can with the peaceful residents of Iran.

StompTheRight

the actions of the current us government do not reflect the wishes of the average american. 

im sorry this is happening

Mydogroach

As a US Veteran who lost friends in the Iraq war, I am disgusted that we are here again. Please know most of us Americans do not support what our government has done. Praying for Iran 🇮🇷.

Outside-Gain-9915

UpsidedownCat144

I’m an American too and most Americans did NOT regret voting for him in November. Whether it was ignorance, refusal to accept the facts, whatever — it’s too late to post messages like this (when innocent people may die) in order to feel better about what was our collective fault. 

Well, at least not mine. My community did our part. Your vote will never be undone, and the world has to suffer for it.

Melodic_Type1704

Agreed, I am so sorry to the people of Iran. 

Love and solidarity

pastelsheepy

Agreed here.

I’m American, and I am disgusted.

I’m wish the concept of governance didn’t just flat out suck. Please - not all of us asked for this, and many actively fought against it. 

As a westerner, I gotta say that I wish we were better. This isn’t decency.

PhotonLegion

Israel and US truly are axis of evil. Sorry Iran and world.

SeaParamedic5292

petrovaf

I also want to add this. I never voted for him &amp; always hated him.

Brilliant_Chance_874

My apologies for my country. It truly is embarrassing. The  USA hasn't won a war for the past 70 years. We lost Vietnam, Korean, Afghanistan, Iraq(our policy failed miserably). This little orange man(TRUMP) and Netanyahu are war mongers.

l0ud_Minority

Damn bruh. Just damn. Im still rooting for yall. They want to seperate and stop our support. They may even try to frame an attack and make it look like yall did it. Anything to keep the American people sleep. Sad damn world we live in man F it all…

Revction

Also American and also very upset at my countries actions. This is NOT our war, Iran was defending itself against Israel and now we have attacked them for NO reason. My heart hurts for anyone affected.

Boltbacker83

We love the Iranian people. Don’t believe any lies the Orange Man and his administration are spewing.

The American people stand by you.

I hope you all remain safe during these trying times.

A1Protocol

Another American here. So sorry for our stupidity.

rustytiredchicken69

This American stands with Iranians; you all have the right to self-defense! So embarrassed the world has come to this.. Fuck Trump and Israel, absolute criminals.

CrimsonJynx0

I wish there was something we could do. What can be done as a citizen other than wait four years to get this coward out of office???

Shacksmacksnack

Putting my apology here if any Iranian civilians can even see this. I’m so sorry. It’s safe to say 70% of us didn’t want this maybe more.

Acceptable_Deal_1759

As an American, the majority hate Trump. He is destroying everyone and everything. Only the uneducated and super rich fuck with him; I’m beyond exhausted.

bellaboozle

United States of Australia here. Sending love to the people of Iran, of which i know many. This has been a sickening display of abuse of power. Fuck America and Israel, both run by fanatics. I implore other countries to speak out against this.

diedlikeCambyses

PIPIN3D1

purplefuzz22

Adventurous-Ebb4808

There are no words for the embarrassing actions of my country (the US). You have no reason to trust or believe anything I say, but please know that I, as an American, want to say how sorry I am that this is happening and know that no matter what the media may say, we do not all agree with the current government and the decisions that have been made to create hate and violence towards you or your beautiful country.

armom711

Trump is a traitor as well as his slogan "MAGA"...More like MIGA. I see nothing good from either party, both democrat or republican, in fact, the whole foundation is shot due to the corrupt nature.

Working_Spite_2285

Mexican-American here. I am so sorry. This is horrible.

Dissipated_Shadow

I also do not condone or stand for this unwarranted attack. Many don’t . Praying for Iran. This is horrible fuck trump.

taylorsmithwilliams

As an American I’m so embarrassed and feel so sorry for all the country’s we abuse and sideline the spread dangerous rhetoric and brainwashed. Peace for the Middle East! May we leave them and their land alone and stop trying to steal other peoples resources…in the end that what all these wars are all about

BirdButtons

"With great power comes great responsibility". In the case of Trump, "No Responsibility".

Perfect_Leader_1996

Also an American. I wish everyone to be safe from these madmen and their bombs. We are all just people. It makes me sick to see what our government supports under Trump.

Grouchy_Row_7983

Beginning-Narwhal-75

There goes my dream of visiting Iran. I didn’t vote for the orange moron but I’m embarrassed to live amongst those that did.
I’m sorry for what the Iranians are experiencing.

Also American here. I agree. This is the last thing I wanted to happen.

Sensitive_Put9675

Just an hour ago I typed in Obama here in this subreddit to see people opinions not just of him but trump decision to move out of it

FormerlyTradeKirk

The US cannot now be surprised if their interests are bombed in the region.

Eggersely

Horror-Barber-3817

Sending peace and love. I hate that this is happening. Stay safe you all.

Rayzyns

I probably dislike your government as much as you don’t like mine (and as much as I don’t like the Republican majority), but I hold no ill will against the Iranian people. 

I am going to try to do what I can to stop this shit. Hopefully lots of us join us.

blorbschploble

As an American, this is not a Trump issue, but a systemic American geopolitical and economic issue. The US has maintained a policy of unchecked global hegemony and imperialism for hundreds of years. At the end of the day, the interests of corporations and the military industrial complex will always guide this country’s foreign policy. Every American president regardless of party affiliation has committed war crimes in varying capacities, especially in the Middle East— it’s just Trump’s turn. We should stop blaming Trump in a vacuum and start rallying against the real systemic issues that are holding this country back (neoliberal capitalism and subsequent imperialism), and causing constant destruction and despair globally.

ccerditocansado


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Yeah. The United States' conduct toward Iran after the 1979 revolution was belligerent as well. The US government started giving support to Iraq and Saddam Hussein in his war with Iran. Hussein deployed chemical weapons on Iranians from US-supplied helicopters. Hundreds of thousands of Iranians died in the war and the US supported Hussein the entire time.

StateYellingChampion

The answer is the same as ever.


The US is a fascist imperialist country that forms terrorist groups, coups and genocides on any nation that is not accepting their exploitation, mostly economical, sometimes ideological.


And most of the world has suffered a lot under the US and the other imperial powers, everyone with their own stories, that end up being quite common because imperialists tend to repeat the same processes.

EmuChance4523

Same story every time. It would seem of they were so concerned about them being a threat all they have to do is help build their country so people can exist in a more established environment but instead ask we get is propaganda about how they’re a threat and no mea culpa for how America has made that happen.

FlanneryODostoevsky

Iran is not just "anti-US", Iran is pro self-determination and sovereignity. US is the flagbearer of colonialism and imperialism, and that's why Iran opposed them. 

During the early days of the revolution, many people also chanted against USSR too. People were fed up with foreign powers trying to influence policies, and their intervention in domestic affairs.

There's this famous quote by Khomeini: "England (Britain), is worse than the US, and the US is worse than England, USSR is the worst of them all".

Islamic Republic comes from a militant reinterpretation of Shia Islam, that is mostly armed to fight colonialism. It has many flaws, and after reaching power it has shifted towards exterme right (in terms of domestic policies at least), killing many leftists in the process, but the endgame has always been severing the hands of global powers from Iran.

PsychologicalSet8678

Historically if you look at the facts, you would quickly start to understand and maybe even sympathize with why they chant "death to America". From installing a racist dictator as king (or Shah in Farsi), installing opposition cells to destabilize regions (specially the north where Kurds live), backing and funding Saddam's brutal and unjust war for 8 years, many many cia attempts to destabilize or topple the regime, constant assassinations of scientists and high profile people (not just nuclear scientists but also engineers, researchers and professors), the unlimited amount of economic sanctions that restricts trade with the west... You get the point.

Also to be honest am always surprised Iran's foreign policy and how much they try and play by the rules, participate in the international order, IAEA and all that, yet they get the door slammed in their face every time by the US and Israel. Their attempts to restore relations with the west and establish new ones started in the 90s when Rafsanjani was president. It was so timely and perfect because Saddam Hussein fell out of favor with the US and the west when he invaded Kuwait which put oil markets in crisis and panic. After desert storm despite Iran's efforts, every attempt at restoration and normalization was met with scandals, agression and sometime straight up assassinations, mostly done by Israëls Mosad. This in turn gave way to even more fundamentalists and hardliners to imbed into the government, the IRGC, the Basij forces, the Alquds forces and the Iranian military. These branches of government and military became more popular, more nationalist and very anti Israël and anti US ofcourse. 

I'm Iraqi, my parents fled Iraq to Iran Qum where I was born. Having grown up in Iran, studied there and now in Europe it always amazes me how little people in the west know about Iran. It's an incredible country with incredible people, sadly american empire has been meddling and manipulating in that entire region since the cold war.

Ah0770

Eisenhower really loved that you could topple governments without losing American lives… after what happened in Iran and the coup of 1953 he just kept doing it….

Not to mention that Israel has been anti-Iran for many decades

paublopowers

One of the core tenets of realism is that actors gain and lose strength relative to other actors. By this definition, Iran becoming a nuclear state is USA becoming weaker relative to it, as its suite of options in interactions with Iran would shrink. Iran is (or had been until recently) a major regional power, significant enough to draw at least some of the US' resources. Was it sufficient to justify an outright attack on Iran in terms of realism? That's debatable.


But realism only explain certain dynamics in the intentional systems, it doesn't claim that actors in said system don't make mistakes and miscalculations. Similarly, realism doesn't explain current attitude of USA towards the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as in line with the principles of realism, it's in the US' interest to support Ukraine as much as possible and hence decrease Russia's relative strength.

aventus13

From a realist perspective, the Islamic Revolutionary government in Tehran has always been considered a regional adversary. The Hostage Crisis in the 80s, as well as Operation Praying Mantis in 88, left a lot of distrust and general adversarial feelings between both countries. Iran, before the revolution, was a very strong US ally. This is obvious if you've paid enough attention to notice the F14 Tomcats and the F4 Phantoms destroyed by Israel.

In terms of realism, to put it simply Israel has been the main way for the US to exert power in the region. The other was Saudi Arabia (who also has beef with Iran). When the USSR aligned with Nasser's Arabic state in the 60s, the US countered by backing Israel heavily. Israel winning means that America wins, essentially. 

So, when Israel shares concerns about Iranian nukes, we have concerns as well. Iran can hold the Hormuz hostage very easily and can do a lot of damage to the Persian Gulf trade. Imagine if they got a couple dozen or so nuclear devices and threatened to nuke anyone who tries to stop them from controlling Hormuz. 

Additionally, Israel and the US both prefer a balance of power situation in the Middle East where there really just isn't balance in the first place. If Iran got nukes, that quickly places Iran as a second regional nuclear power in a bi-polar order (Pakistan doesn't really count in my opinion because their arsenal was created for India, not Israel). But can you sort of see where I'm going with this? If Israel is hard countered by a nuclear Iran with an active deterrence policy, Israel can't act as freely as it does, which is an overall detriment to US foreign policy in the middle east. In international relations this is something that a realist could easily justify a conflict over. 

There are other concerns about Iran potentially giving atomic devices to irrational actors (i.e. Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, etc.) Which are valid but I view as unlikely mostly due to it being a quick way to get glassed by the Israelis, but its definitely a possibility as well. 

TLDR: Israel wins = good for American foreign policy; current Balance (or lack thereof) of power benefits Israel and therefore US; Iran has really bad friends who would do shitty things with access to atomic devices.

Edit: a historical example not related to the middle east is in the 1960s the US had made plans to strike China's nuke program before it happened. They even considered nuking the program themselves, and at one point had considered inviting the Soviets to join as well. It happened around 1964 I believe but I can find something to read about it if you'd like.)

yeetyeeter13

Realism assumes the entire state acts as a unitary rational actor playing out a logical strategy. Constructivism makes similar assumptions, but couches the strategic decision making in terms of international norms. Both share the assumption that decisions are made with the best interests of the entire state in mind. 

However, we’ve seen time and time again that Trump makes these decisions not on a geopolitical strategic level, but in terms of how decisions benefit him personally instead. To that end I don’t believe that any of the academic IR frameworks we have available can easily explain the decisions here. You need to ask what Trump himself gains from this, not what the USA as a whole gains from this.

pfire777

According to Mearsheimer himself (actually what he’s gotten the most publicity for!) there is no “realist” reason for the US to support Israel so much.

diffidentblockhead

I think the real reason the us keeps bombing the Middle East is to prevent a hostile great power from rising. By constantly funding regime change, resetting infrastructure and bombing the us has been able to prevent the rise of a great power in the Middle East. This fits perfectly with realism to me. Iran building nukes can’t be sure if for defense or for offense. Ext

ogpterodactyl

Israel is now, to an excellent approximation, an American settler colonial project of America's ruling class. That's why we pay for their healthcare, defense, and education. They are not treated like a separate country. They are technically a client state, but their influence on American politics and our elites is so great that there is not much of a distinction anymore.


Since Iran threatens their colonial project, largely driven by the American and Israeli superstitious religious delusions coupled with extraordinary greed and theft, America was bound to eventually go after Iran, as we had planned to do so for decades.

MonsterkillWow

Any comparison to NK is crazy. Even before Nukes North Korea had a massive arsenal directly aimed at Seoul. Any kind of escalation could result in millions of deaths. Practically MAD with extra steps. 

Iran has no stick.

Furthermore, there is no such thing as a few nukes. A few nukes are enough to *completely* destroy Israel in a few hours. And also hold the entire Western world hostage with the threat of Nukes (Greece, for example, is entirely within their ever increasing ballistic range), as well as their other neighbors.

Lastly, they could give dirty bombs to their proxy terrorist organizations.

All in all nothing like NK.

BuenaventuraReload

Realist theory doesn’t state that every actor is rational or can’t make mistakes/bad decisions

But also “Iran is an inferior even with a few nukes” I think you underestimate just how huge of a deal even having only a few nukes is

KonaYukiNe

Lots of countries around Iran are concerned about Iran having nukes.  Those same countries have Trump by his pussy.  Saudis for example.

NewspaperLumpy8501

Iran has been shown to be a paper tiger, US and Israeli intelligence has completely penetrated them (you would think the head of the army, Islamic Guard, air, and intelligence would be protected). Their conventional forces have also been mostly ineffective. So unlike North Korea there was little risk of blowback, or spill over from regime collapse.

Particular-Star-504

You’re heavily underestimating just how transformative a single nuclear weapon could be for the balance of power in the region, especially for Israel which is a small country with a population concentrated around one city. The threat of a nuke is much more substantial than some missiles.

saltrxn

North America
Europe
NE Asia
Middle East




These are the regions with geography most likely to support a hegemonic civilization forming.


The US causes chaos whenever possible in the ME because that diminishes the probability of a challenger developing there. It f@cks with Europe and NE Asia to lesser degrees because they are more stable and able to resist or fight back.


Supporting Israel has evolved into a convenient narrative that normies can understand.


It's nothing personal, just geopolitics.

The better schools of IR theory don't black box countries. That is very stupid.

  
I mean... all IR theory is pretty stupid but hey

retroman1987

Constructivism explains it quite well. What it fails to explain is that it took 46 years of Iran preaching, and Iranian crowds chanting, "death to America," along with Iranian support for terrorism for America to do something like this. Iran has been an avowed enemy of America since 1979. Ideas like friend and enemy matter, according to Constructivism.

As far as realism, it explains an attack by a hegemon on a rising power with ambitions of regional hegemony. The difference with North Korea is harder to explain, though lack of serious non-nuclear capacity could do the trick. Yes, North Korea has a huge army, but even less capacity to do anything with it that threatens our power than their nukes.

ThePoliticsProfessor

The notion that IR can be assessed independent of domestic politics is nonsensical.

Former-Shallot-2435

Recent comments from US President Donald Trump indicate a desire for renewed diplomacy with Iran, particularly amid ongoing tensions in the region.

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