From friendly to violent: the history of US-Iranian relations | The Excerpt
USA TODAY
Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group joins The Excerpt to break down the complicated history between the United States and Iran.
On the Thursday, March 19, 2026, episode of The Excerpt podcast: As the U.S.-Israel war Iran intensifies, it’s hard to imagine Iran was once an important U.S. ally. In this special episode, we lay out key inflection points in the history of US-Iranian relations and how they continue to shape the ongoing conflict today. Ali Vaez, the Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, joins The Excerpt to share his insights and analysis.
Hit play on the player below to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript beneath it. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.
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Zulekha Nathoo:
The White House is dealing with mixed reactions from critics and supporters alike over its decision to go to war with Iran alongside Israel. The ongoing conflict between the US and Iran shows no signs of abating, affecting everything from diplomatic relations to the price of oil. But could history perhaps provide us with clues on what to expect next, especially when the US and Iran were at one point allies?
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