Fact Check: America started war with Iran

Fact Check: "America started war with Iran"

What We Know

The claim that "America started war with Iran" is a simplification of a complex historical relationship between the two nations. The United States and Iran have had a tumultuous relationship since the mid-20th century, marked by significant events such as the 1953 coup that overthrew Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, which was orchestrated by the CIA in collaboration with British intelligence (Fuchs, 2024). This event fostered deep-seated animosity towards the U.S. among many Iranians.

The most notable military conflict involving both nations is the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), during which the U.S. supported Iraq under Saddam Hussein. The U.S. did not initiate this war; rather, it was a conflict between Iran and Iraq, although the U.S. did engage in military actions against Iran during this period, such as Operation Praying Mantis in 1988, which was a response to Iranian mining of the Persian Gulf (PBS, Brookings).

In recent years, tensions have escalated, particularly over Iran's nuclear program and its support for militant groups in the region. However, these tensions have not escalated into a formal declaration of war initiated by the U.S. against Iran.

Analysis

The assertion that America started a war with Iran lacks nuance and fails to consider the historical context of U.S.-Iran relations. While the U.S. has engaged in military actions against Iranian interests, particularly during the Iran-Iraq War, these actions were not the result of a formal declaration of war initiated by the U.S. government. Instead, they were responses to specific provocations or conflicts, such as the aforementioned Operation Praying Mantis, which was a retaliatory measure rather than an act of war (CFR, CNN).

Moreover, the historical timeline of U.S.-Iran relations shows a pattern of conflict and cooperation, with various administrations adopting different approaches to Iran. The U.S. has imposed sanctions and engaged in diplomatic negotiations, such as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015, aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions (Fuchs, 2024). This indicates that while the relationship is fraught with tension, it is not accurate to state that the U.S. has unilaterally started a war with Iran.

The sources used to evaluate this claim are credible and provide a comprehensive overview of the historical context. The Brookings Institution and the Council on Foreign Relations are reputable think tanks that offer in-depth analyses of U.S. foreign policy, while PBS and CNN provide accessible timelines and summaries of events (Brookings, PBS, CFR).

Conclusion

Verdict: False
The claim that "America started war with Iran" is misleading. While the U.S. has engaged in military actions against Iranian interests, it has not formally declared war on Iran. The historical context reveals a complex relationship characterized by both conflict and attempts at diplomacy. Therefore, the assertion oversimplifies a multifaceted issue and does not accurately reflect the realities of U.S.-Iran relations.

Sources

1. US-Iran Relations: A Complex History of Conflict and Change
2. PDF MIT International Review 1 of 5 - MIT - Massachusetts Institute of ...
3. Lessons from America's First War with Iran
4. Iran–United States relations
5. A historical timeline of U.S. relations with Iran | PBS News
6. The US-Iran conflict: A timeline of how we got here - CNN International
7. Timeline: U.S. Relations With Iran