Published on 6/22/2026
Relations between Tehran and Washington have oscillated for decades between dialogue and escalation, and between opportunities for understanding and possibilities for military confrontation, as both parties seek to keep channels of communication open despite severe crises.
The launch of the new round of Iranian-American negotiations in Switzerland – the first after the memorandum of understanding that followed the recent military confrontation – sheds light on a heavy legacy of disagreements and several negotiating stations during which diplomacy and the way of dealing changed, and in which crises were a determinant of foreign policy and confidence-building.
The two sides are seeking, within a period of 60 days, to reach a final agreement on the technical issues related to the Iranian nuclear program, in a step that has broad implications for the security of the region and the global economy.
Hostage crisis and severance of relations (1979)
- The crisis that occurred at the American embassy in Tehran after the victory of the Islamic Revolution caused the severing of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
- The two parties negotiated through Algerian mediation and reached a deal, but the following years witnessed continued hostility and sanctions.
The “Iran-Contra” scandal and the secret negotiation (1980s):
- The scandal revealed a secret negotiation that took place between the two parties, reflecting the effect of the intersection of interests sometimes in changing perceptions.
- Under this secret file, American weapons were sold to Tehran in exchange for the release of American detainees in Lebanon.
Temporary regional détente (1997 – 2003)
- Tough American policies saw a breakthrough after the reformist Mohammad Khatami assumed the presidency of Iran in 1997.
- This breakthrough resulted in rounds of dialogue between the two countries on the Afghanistan and Iraq files, influenced by regional interests.
Nuclear militancy and the regional role of mediation
- Extremism returned again during the terms of the conservative Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the American George Bush, coinciding with the development of the nuclear program.
- Secret and public negotiations were later held that extended for years, in which the Sultanate of Oman and Switzerland played the role of mediator.
The nuclear agreement and the American withdrawal (2009 – 2013)
- The situation continued with the arrival of Barack Obama to the White House, and much changed when moderate Hassan Rouhani assumed the presidency in 2013, after Iran reached a nuclear agreement with the international six-party.
- The negotiation process stopped and the two parties entered into a political escalation over nuclear, regional and missile issues, after Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in his first presidential term.
The Biden era and then the return of Trump (2021-2025)
- Faltering negotiations returned with the arrival of Joe Biden to the White House and the presence of hard-line conservative Ebrahim Raisi as president of Iran.
- Trump later maintained the negotiations temporarily with greater political strictness, before the conflict turned over time into a military war that changed the stereotype of political conflict.
