Here is a list of factors that have caused antagonism that is
so deep:
Overthrow
of the Shah
Before the revolution, the United States was a close ally of
Iran under the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was seen as a secular,
pro-Western ruler. The Islamic Revolution overthrew the Shah and replaced his
regime with a theocratic government led by Ayatollah Khomeini. The new regime
viewed the US as a symbol of imperialism and corruption, coining the term
"Great Satan" to describe it.
Embassy
Hostage Crisis
The US alleges that the Iranian revolutionaries stormed the
Embassy in Tehran and took 52 American diplomats hostage for 444 days. This
incident permanently damaged US-Iran relations and led to the severing of
diplomatic ties. It entrenched the perception in the US that the Islamic
Republic was hostile and dangerous.
Strategic
Interests in the Middle East
The US has long-standing alliances with Israel and Arab Gulf
states, which are regional rivals of Iran. Iran opposes US military presence in
the Middle East. Iran is often accused of supporting groups that the US terms
terrorist organizations. The US sees Iran’s regional influence and proxy
network as a major threat to its hegemony in the region.
Iranian
Nuclear Program
The US has led global efforts to prevent Iran from
developing nuclear weapons, fearing regional destabilization and proliferation.
Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, but the US has imposed
severe economic sanctions to curb it. The collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal
(JCPOA) under the Trump administration worsened tensions.
Ideological
Conflict
The Islamic Republic’s governance is based on the principle
of Velayat-e Faqih (rule of the Islamic jurist), which is fundamentally opposed
to Western secular democracy. Iran views the US as a moral and cultural threat,
promoting values it sees as antithetical to Islam and Islamic governance. The US
views Iran’s system as authoritarian, anti-democratic, and hostile to human
rights.
US Support for Opposing Groups
The US supported Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War
(1980–1988), in which hundreds of thousands of Iranians died. The US has
supported efforts to weaken or isolate Iran’s allies and proxies across the
region. Iran is also termed supporter of anti-US groups and militias across the
Middle East.
Conclusion
The US is termed as the deadliest opponent of the Islamic
Revolution because: 1) US represents the global power the revolution aims to
resist, 2) US actively work to contain, isolate, and punish Iran
post-revolution, 2) US has had a direct role in military, economic, and covert
actions against Iran and its allies.
Many of the questions remain unanswered because the western
media tows the US foreign policy, for which the news agencies are paid handsome
return.
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