1953 Coup (Operation Ajax): The U.S., through the CIA, and the UK orchestrated a coup to overthrow Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, who had nationalized Iran’s oil industry. This operation reinstated the Shah as the dominant power. The Shah’s regime became closely aligned with U.S. interests, receiving significant military and economic support to counter Soviet influence during the Cold War. This created widespread resentment among Iranians, who viewed the Shah as a U.S. puppet.
The 1979 Iranian Revolution
- Causes of the Revolution: By the late 1970s, the Shah faced growing unrest due to economic inequality, political repression, and cultural alienation from his Westernization policies. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, exiled in Iraq and later France, emerged as a unifying figure for the opposition, rallying Iranians with his calls for an Islamic government. The revolution was a broad-based movement involving secularists, communists, and Islamists, though Khomeini’s faction ultimately dominated.
- U.S. Role in the Shah’s Downfall: The U.S. did not actively work to overthrow the Shah. In fact, the Carter administration supported him until his regime became untenable. However, U.S. policy contributed indirectly:
- Mixed Signals: In 1977–78, President Jimmy Carter pressed the Shah to liberalize his regime as part of a human rights agenda, which emboldened opposition groups. At the same time, the U.S. continued military support, creating confusion about its stance.
- Failure to Intervene: As protests escalated in 1978, the U.S. did not provide the Shah with clear guidance or decisive support to suppress the revolution. Declassified documents show the Carter administration was divided, with some officials urging support for the Shah and others advocating for a transition to a moderate government. By late 1978, the U.S. began to see the Shah’s rule as unsustainable.
- Shah’s Departure: In January 1979, the Shah fled Iran, and the U.S. allowed him entry for medical treatment later that year. This decision inflamed anti-American sentiment, culminating in the Iran Hostage Crisis in November 1979.
The 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, was carried out by a suicide bomber driving a truck laden with explosives. The attack on October 23, 1983, killed 241 U.S. military personnel, including 220 Marines, 18 sailors, and 3 soldiers, and wounded over 60 others. A simultaneous attack targeted the French military barracks, killing 58 French paratroopers and 6 civilians.The attack was attributed to the militant group Hezbollah, a Shia Islamist organization backed by Iran. Specifically, the operation was linked to Hezbollah’s precursor, the Islamic Jihad Organization, a shadowy militant cell that emerged during Lebanon’s civil war (1975–1990). • Court Findings: A 2003 U.S. federal court ruling in Peterson v. Islamic Republic of Iran held Iran liable for the attack, citing evidence of IRGC funding, training, and logistical support for Hezbollah. The court noted that the operation required sophisticated planning beyond the capabilities of local militias alone. • Confessions and Claims: While Hezbollah did not officially claim responsibility at the time, key figures like Imad Mughniyeh, a senior Hezbollah military commander, were later implicated. Mughniyeh, killed in 2008, was indicted by the U.S. for his role in this and other attacks.Iran’s Role: Iran provided financial and operational support through the IRGC, which established training camps for Hezbollah in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. Declassified U.S. intelligence from the 1980s confirms Iran’s strategic goal was to expel Western forces from Lebanon, viewing them as obstacles to its influence in the region. Iran’s Role: Iran provided financial and operational support through the IRGC, which established training camps for Hezbollah in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. Declassified U.S. intelligence from the 1980s confirms Iran’s strategic goal was to expel Western forces from Lebanon, viewing them as obstacles to its influence in the region.
TOTAL DEATHS CAUSED BY IRAN OR ITS PROXIES (1983-present)
1983 Beirut Barracks Bombing
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On October 23, 1983, a suicide bomber killed 241 U.S. military personnel (220 Marines, 18 sailors, 3 soldiers) in Beirut, Lebanon. This attack is attributed to Hezbollah, backed by Iran .
1996 Khobar Towers Bombing
- A truck bomb in Saudi Arabia killed 19 U.S. Air Force personnel, attributed to Hezbollah with Iranian support Khobar Towers Bombing - Wikipedia.
Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003–2011)
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The Pentagon estimates at least 603 U.S. personnel deaths in Iraq were due to Iran-backed militants using various weapons like EFPs and IEDs .
Other Regions
- No specific numbers are confirmed for U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan, Syria, or by proxies like Hamas and Houthis, though some sources suggest "well over a thousand" total, indicating possible undercounting.
Total Estimate
Based on available data, the total is at least 863, but the actual number could be higher due to unconfirmed incidents in other regions.
September 28, 2012 - M.E.K. - Mujahedin-e Khalq (Al Qaeda of Iran) - Hillary Clinton, as U.S. Secretary of State, formally removed the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) from the U.S. terror list on September 28, 2012. This action ended the group's designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, which had been in place since 1997.
April 2015 - NEWSWEEK ARTICLE - Congressman Steve Stockman publishes article in Newsweek detailing Hillary Clinton’s involvement with Ukraine Oligarch Viktor Pinchuk to ship highly specialized steel used in manufacturing nuclear enrichment centrifuges. Newsweek reviewed declarations and documents from Ukraine that show a series of shipments from Interpipe to Iran in 2011 and 2012, including railway parts and products commonly used in the oil and gas sectors.
July 14, 2015 - JCPOA - Iran entered the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement on July 14, 2015. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, was the result of extensive negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group (the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany, with the European Union as a coordinator).
2015 - PRESENT - • Nuclear Restrictions: ◦ Iran reduced its uranium stockpile by 98% (to 300 kg) and limited enrichment to , for 15 years. ◦ Centrifuges were cut to 5,060 at Natanz, with no enrichment at Fordow for 15 years. ◦ The Arak reactor was redesigned, and spent fuel was shipped out. ◦ Iran accepted enhanced IAEA monitoring, including access to undeclared sites under managed conditions. • Sanctions Relief: ◦ UN, EU, and US nuclear-related sanctions were to be lifted or suspended upon IAEA verification of Iran's compliance (achieved on Implementation Day, January 16, 2016). ◦ Non-nuclear sanctions (e.g., for human rights or terrorism) remained in place. • Snapback Mechanism: If Iran violated the deal, sanctions could be reimposed via a UN Security Council process. • Duration: Core restrictions lasted 10–15 years, with some (e.g., IAEA monitoring) extending longer.Signatories: The JCPOA was endorsed by the UN Security Council via Resolution 2231 (July 20, 2015), making it part of international law.
November 20, 2024 (After election of Donald J. Trump) - IAEA Director General's Introductory Statement to the Board of Governors
November 21, 2024 -IRAN’S ATOMIC ENERGY SPOKESPERSON PUBLIC STATEMENT
November 21, 2024 -IRAN’S ATOMIC ENERGY SPOKESPERSON PUBLIC STATEMENT
May 31, 2025 - IAEA Director General - NPT SAFEGUARDS REPORT
May 31, 2025 - IAEA Director General - NPT SAFEGUARDS REPORT
May 31, 2025 - IAEA Director General - NPT SAFEGUARDS REPORT
June 9, 2025 - Analysis of IAEA Iran Verification and Monitoring Report — May 2025
June 9, 2025 - Analysis of IAEA Iran Verification and Monitoring Report — May 2025
