Iran By: Dana, Hadya, Vitek, and Kyle

Intro The United States has been the main threat to Iran since the Islamic Revolution in The United States' hostility towards Iran has ironically led to strengthening Iran. This is demonstrated in the case of the three Americans taken hostage by Iran, the sanctions the US has imposed on Iran, the struggle for an Iranian nuclear program, and the Iran-Iraq war.

3 American Hikers Arrested In July 2009, 3 American hikers arrested by Iran after crossing the border, accused of being spies. Reasons why they were captured - poor political relationship, disagreements nuclear program, internal political pressure - all due to Iranian president's nationalistic Iranian beliefs that he and his country deserve respect. History of poor political relationship between Iran and US is factor because Iran wants to retaliate/bargain. Current disagreement over nuclear program in Iran is factor because nationalism/bargaining. Current political pressure on president of Iran to maintain power by positioning the United States as a threat is factor.

Sanctions In June 2010, the United States imposed sanctions on Iran, which has actually strengthened Iran for several reasons. The sanctions on Iran have led to a failing economy, which has made the Iranian government stronger because they have learned how to handle sanctions after receiving them for 31 years. The sanctions are making the Islamic Revolutionary Guard stronger because the Iranian people are thinking poorly of the US due to the harm they have managed to impose on Iran with the sanctions. Iran's international trade being negatively affected is hurting the US because they're trade partners. This will help Iran because as the US gets weaker, Iranians' nationalism increases, which will make Iran stronger.

Iran and It's Nuclear Program Iran's Nuclear program started when the United states actually built the Tehran research reactor for Iran. The Nuclear program is a matter of national pride for the people of Iran so it has been very difficult to stop. Even if Iran did get nuclear weapons it still wouldn't have any place it could use them because repercussions would be too great. The Sanctions placed as a result of Iran's refusal to shut down it's nuclear program have greatly hurt the ecopnomy of Iran and made it easier for the government to opress the people. The latest batch of sanctioons has been put in place despite Irans cooperation with the West terms for foreign enrichment.

The Iran Iraq War The war began when Iraq invaded Iran, launching an invasion by air and land into Iranian territory on September 22, 1980 the war stared because of a boarder dispute in the oil rich province Iraq invaded Iran because of the resent revolution weakening the military Iraq thought that Iran would be push over and they could replace them as the supper power in the middle east. half way through the US had to start helping the oil tankers get out of Iran because Iraq started trying to sink oil tankers to disrupt the flow of cash into the country UN thought that both nations were using chemical war but it was only Iraq using it The war ended in 1988

Iran Iraq war

Conclusion In conclusion, the three Americans taken hostage by the Iranian government, the sanctions in Iran, the struggle for nuclear power, and the Iran-Iraq war have all led to the strengthening of Iranian nationalism due to the United States' hostility towards them. Although the US has attempted to stop Iranian power through the halt of the nuclear program and the sanctions, Iran ironically continues to be strong, as shown with the capturing of the three Americans and the Iran- Iraq war, both examples of nationalistic Iran continuing to fight for their nation.