Dr.Akram Salehi

 Graduated from International Relations from Azad University, North Tehran Branch

Iran-US relations have fluctuated in recent years and have never led to the opening of bilateral and friendly relations. Most political factions in the country consider one of the important reasons for this divergence, the duality of sovereignty and government. They believe the regime is reluctant to have normal relations with the United States and governments are not decision-makers, despite their ulterior motives. Therefore, this study tries to answer this question that, what effect will have the upcoming Iranian presidential election on US-Iranian relations? for answer to this question, it seems that the forthcoming presidential elections in Iran and the formation of the 13th government will not affect Iran-US relations in macro-policy and foreign policy due to the fact that governments are agents and the decisions of the president and the government are not decisive.

The history of Iran-US relations is full of important issues and ups and downs that have occurred on different occasions and times and have finally led to the severance of political relations between the two countries. The lack of understanding and distance between the two countries is so great that it can be interpreted as an uneven road or a high wall. Why did this great distance and high wall of enmity arise? Should this high wall still remain or should it be removed? In the case of Iran-US relations, throughout history, from direct intervention and alliance to severance and enmity can be seen. According to this, Iran-US relations can be divided into three periods:

• First period: from the beginning to the 19 August 1953(28 Mordad coup d'état)
• Second period: from the 19 August 1953(28 Mordad coup d'état) to the 1979 revolution
• Third period: the period after the 1979 revolution

In the first period of Iran-US relations from 1829 to 1850, the relations were purely cultural and to some extent religious-cultural. During the years leading up to World War II, the United States left a positive and altruistic image in the minds of the Iranian people, who had suffered from Russian and British interference. But after the emergence of the National Oil Industry Movement, The country tried to prevent Dr. Mossadegh coming to power during a coup So that their oil interests in the Middle East are not jeopardized. Thus Suppress the oil nationalization crisis was a major achievement for the United States because it gained a decisive share in Iran's oil industry and was able to influence Iran's economic and political developments. In addition, creating a police and violent atmosphere after the 19 August 1953(28 Mordad coup d'état) needed an organization that could stifle any cry for freedom and take the opportunity from the faithful and fighting forces. Therefore, the United States created the dreaded SAVAK organization in Iran under the supervision of the CIA. On the other hand, by plundering the country's oil resources and selling weapons and consumer goods, the United States made Iran more and more dependent. As in 1964, with the approval of the infamous Capitulation Agreement, the political aspect of this dependence became more and more apparent and the independence and political and judicial sovereignty of Iran were violated.

Perhaps one of the most complex relations in world diplomacy is Iran's relationship with the United States after the Islamic Revolution Which has suffered many ups and downs. Following the 1978 revolution, Iran has grown from a loyal ally to one of the United States' most irreconcilable enemies in the region and beyond. Occurrence of some crises in the relations between the two countries in the early years of the victory of the revolution, including the occupation of the US embassy and The hostage-taking of US diplomats, the US attack on Tabas to rescue the hostages, Also, US intelligence and military support to Iraq in its aggression against Iran, Led to the strengthening of this view.

In fact, in recent years, the only period of easing tensions between the two countries can be considered the short period between the signing of the Iran nuclear deal with world powers until Donald Trump came to power; A period that was expected to bring about an opening in the work of Iran's unstable and helpless economy with the coordination of the six great powers of the world. In general, Iran and the United States have been in a state of numerous challenges and conflicts After the Trump administration came to power and they have constantly drawn lines and signs for each other and have threatened and lured. Among other hostile acts; US withdrawal from The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), IRGC shoots down US drone, Attack on Aramco oil facility, Iran attacks US base at Ain al-Assad in Iraq, US Maximum Pressure Policy.

 Looking at Iran's relationship with the United States during different periods, The belief is reinforced that Washington's relationship with Tehran has always followed a clear policy at various times, regardless of which government held Iran's executive power. At all times, Iran's coercive attitude towards the United States has provoked a completely different reaction from Washington that at least wide range of economic and political sanctions have been in place during both the Democratic and Republican presidencies. Throughout this period, the ups and downs of the relationship between the two sides have been shaped not by the ruling party in power in the United States, but by the policy adopted by Iran.

It seems that in Iran, governments, despite their inner desire to establish relations with the United States, are not decision-makers, and in fact it is the government that is reluctant to have normal relations with the United States. Therefore, the upcoming presidential election in Iran and the coming to power of the new government will not usually involve a one hundred and eighty degree turn in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the field of relations with the United States. In fact, any change or any defect and inefficiency of the previous government and its departure means the coming of a strong and efficient government; It will not be even from another political current and spectrum, and will not play an effective role in improving Iran-US relations. Despite the fact that governments are proving successful and efficient in the last days by presenting various statistics but the reality in this regard is different from these statistics. It seems that fixed factors such as the lack of executive power of the presidency in Iran play a major role in not solving the problems and challenges between Iran and the United States. And every government with any political orientation is surrounded by these factors in a way that its performance has nothing to do with its promises. The change of government in Iran has no effect on Iran-US relations due to the fact that governments are agents and the decisions of the presidency and the government in general is not decisive, in macro and foreign policy, it has no effect on Iran-US relations. In fact, the gap between the views of the Sovereignty

and the government And the extent to which influential groups influence government decision-making directly affects their functioning and efficiency and leads to inefficiency of governments in establishing relations with the United States.