Iran and the United States, who are set to begin negotiations in Islamabad on Saturday after six weeks of war, have had conflicting relations since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and the hostage-taking at the American embassy in Tehran.
If Vice President JD Vance, leading the American delegation, were to meet with Iranian officials, it would be the highest-level in-person meeting between the two countries in over half a century.
Hostage-taking at the embassy
On November 4, 1979, seven months after the proclamation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Islamist students stormed the embassy, demanding the extradition of the former Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown after months of protests and being treated in the United States.
Fifty-two diplomats and employees were held hostage for 444 days.
In April 1980, nine months before their release, Washington severed diplomatic relations and imposed a commercial embargo.
“Axis of Evil”
On April 30, 1995, Washington announced a total commercial and financial embargo against Iran, accused by President Bill Clinton of supporting terrorism. Sanctions were then imposed against companies investing in the Iranian oil or gas sectors.
In 2002, President George W. Bush included Iran among three countries forming an “axis of evil” supporting “terrorism” (along with Iraq and North Korea).
Historic agreement
In 2005, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad resumed uranium enrichment, claiming to develop nuclear energy for civilian purposes.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported in 2011 “credible” information that Iran had conducted activities related to the development of a “nuclear explosive device” as part of a “structured program” before 2003.
On June 15, 2013, the United States, under Barack Obama, expressed readiness to “directly collaborate” with the new president, Hassan Rohani. In September, Mr. Obama and Mr. Rohani spoke on the phone, the first time since 1979.
On July 14, 2015, Tehran and six major powers (China, United States, France, United Kingdom, Russia, Germany) reached an agreement in Vienna aiming to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, in exchange for easing international sanctions. The pact was endorsed by the UN the same year.
Trump denounces the agreement
On May 8, 2018, during his first term, President Donald Trump announced the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the pact, followed by the re-imposition of sanctions. A year later, Iran began to deviate from certain commitments.
As subsequent international diplomatic efforts remained unsuccessful, UN sanctions were reinstated on September 28, 2025, and the agreement officially expired the following month.
General Soleimani killed
On January 3, 2020, powerful Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was killed in an American strike in Baghdad. Donald Trump claimed he was planning “imminent” attacks against American diplomats and military personnel. In retaliation, Iran launched missiles at bases housing American soldiers in Iraq.
American strikes
During a 12-day war triggered by an unprecedented Israeli attack on Iran, the United States launched strikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites on June 21, 2025.
Donald Trump claimed they were “precise,” but the exact extent of the damage is unknown.
War in the Middle East
After a massive wave of protests erupted in late December 2025, Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to strike Iran in response to the bloody repression.
In early February, the two countries resumed indirect talks through Omani mediation. Washington demanded an agreement beyond the Iranian nuclear program to also include ballistic capabilities, which Tehran rejected.
On February 28, Donald Trump announced that the United States had launched “major combat operations” with Israel, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on the first day and targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructures in the following weeks.
Iran retaliated by striking Israel and Gulf countries, particularly oil facilities, and by nearly completely blocking the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of global oil and gas transit.
On April 8, a ceasefire agreed upon between Washington and Tehran came into effect.
AFP
