Fear of Communism and U.S.-Iran Rapprochement: ۱۹۸۴-۱۹۸۶

The advent of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in ۱۹۷۹ significantly worsened Iran-U.S. relations. Although this relationship has been founded upon hostility ever since, the ۱۹۸۴-۸۶ period can be mentioned as one when relations between the two actors were exempt to the rule, with both sides trying to establish unofficial relationships. This article seeks to explore the reasons for U.S. proximity to Iran during those years and to answer the following question: Why did the United States pursue rapprochement with Iran in ۱۹۸۴-۸۶ in spite of hostility and negative space found between the two states? The hypothesis which is proposed in this writing revolves around the discussion of fear of Communist influence in Iran; a fear that made the United States devise a plan for approaching Iran. This ultimately resulted in the Iran-Gate or Iran-Contra affair. In other words, this research seeks to test the following hypothesis: Fear of Communist influence in Iran led the United States to approach Iran in the ۱۹۸۴-۸۶ period.