Iran & America: A Century and Counting · Episode 7 of 11 · 14 min
The Reset That Never Happened: US–Iran Relations in the 1990s
After Khomeini's death in 1989, Washington sought to isolate Iran through dual containment and ever tighter sanctions. A real opening flickered in 1997 when reformist Mohammad Khatami was elected and called for a dialogue among civilizations. Mutual mistrust and hardliners in both capitals kept softer words from becoming diplomacy.
Who's who
- Ruhollah Khomeini+3 more episodesHis 1989 death opened the post-revolution era
- Bill Clinton+5 more episodesPresident who imposed a total embargo in 1995
- Mohammad KhatamiReformist president who called for a "Dialogue Among Civilizations"
Where it happens
- Iran+1 more episodeTarget of U.S. isolation and sanctions
- Iraq+1 more episodeBoxed in alongside Iran under dual containment
Timeline
- 1989Khomeini dies; Washington seeks to isolate Iran.
- 1995Clinton imposes a total trade and investment embargo on Iran.
- 1996The Iran–Libya Sanctions Act penalizes large foreign investments in Iran's energy sector.
- 1997Reformist Mohammad Khatami is elected president and softens the rhetoric.
← PreviousIran–Contra, the Tanker War & Flight 655: The 1980s That Broke TrustNext →Axis of Evil to Stuxnet: How the Iran Nuclear Crisis Began
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