Who is responsible for U.S.-Iran tensions?
The United States is working to gain consensus for tougher sanctions on
Iran after the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that the
country was engaging in research that could only be used for developing a
nuclear trigger.
Iran has consequently threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil exports. There is also increased concern that Israel will prepare to take tough measures against Iran.
In an article in Foreign Policy, author and historian Mark Perry describes a series of CIA memos revealing a false-flag operation involving Israel’s intelligence agency, the Mossad. The memos report that Israeli spies posed as American agents to recruit members of Jundallah, a Pakistan-based separatist group, to carry out attacks in Iran.
Adding to tensions, an Iranian nuclear scientist was killed last week, and Iranian officials blame the United States and Israel for the death.
In this episode of The Stream, we talk to Vali Nasr, former senior adviser with the U.S. State Department; Meir Javedanfar, an Iranian-Israeli writer; and Mark Perry.
What do you think? Who is responsible for growing tensions between the United States and Iran? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using hashtag #AJStream.
These are some of the social media elements featured in this episode of The Stream
Relations between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran have heightened to a breaking point in recent months. It has been a dramatic departure from the early diplomatic efforts of President Obama's first months in office, when he reached out to Iran in a Nowruz greeting that included a message in Farsi.
Iran has consequently threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil exports. There is also increased concern that Israel will prepare to take tough measures against Iran.
In an article in Foreign Policy, author and historian Mark Perry describes a series of CIA memos revealing a false-flag operation involving Israel’s intelligence agency, the Mossad. The memos report that Israeli spies posed as American agents to recruit members of Jundallah, a Pakistan-based separatist group, to carry out attacks in Iran.
Adding to tensions, an Iranian nuclear scientist was killed last week, and Iranian officials blame the United States and Israel for the death.
In this episode of The Stream, we talk to Vali Nasr, former senior adviser with the U.S. State Department; Meir Javedanfar, an Iranian-Israeli writer; and Mark Perry.
What do you think? Who is responsible for growing tensions between the United States and Iran? Send us your thoughts and comments on Facebook or Twitter using hashtag #AJStream.
These are some of the social media elements featured in this episode of The Stream
Relations between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran have heightened to a breaking point in recent months. It has been a dramatic departure from the early diplomatic efforts of President Obama's first months in office, when he reached out to Iran in a Nowruz greeting that included a message in Farsi.
- In November, a report by the IAEA raised credible concerns about the weaponisation of Iran's nuclear programme. The perennial war of words between the US and Iran has since escalated into tough new sanctions, heightened threats, and a spate of espionage allegations.
- The International Atomic Energy Agency has been investigating Iran for nearly a decade, amid frequent debate over the country's right to pursue nuclear energy and the intentions of the programme.
- After the US imposed new sanctions on Iran in the wake of the IAEA report, the Iranian regime threatened to cut off all access to the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
- The Strait of Hormuz is one of the tightest sea passages in the world: 54 km (34 miles) at its narrowest. 35% of the world's seaborne oil shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, equivalent to 20% of the oil traded worldwide.
- Iran is one of the world's largest oil exporters, using the Strait of Hormuz as its only point of access from the Persian Gulf to the sea.
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