This document discusses tensions between the United States and Iran over Iran's nuclear program and other issues. It provides background on both countries and outlines key areas of conflict, including Iran's nuclear activities, US sanctions, drone incidents, the Strait of Hormuz, and Hezbollah bombings. The document also compares the approaches of the Obama and Trump administrations toward Iran and notes risks of potential conflict due to Trump's impulsive decision-making style.

1. GROUP MEMBERS:
• Fatima Akhtar
• Syed Muzammil Iqbal
• Burhan ur Rehman
• Faizan Rajput
• Sheraz Akhtar

3.  The United States of America (USA), commonly known as the United
States (U.S.) or America, is a constitutional federal republic composed
of 50 states, a federal district, five major self-governing territories,
and various possessions.
 Capital: Washington, D.C.
 President: Donald Trump
 Population: 321.4 million (2015)

4.  The Government of USA is strongly committed to defeat ISIS. In 2014,
a coalition of 60 countries was formed by USA to defeat the terror.
 Since then USA and the coalition forces have carried out thousands of
airstrikes against ISIS positions and their trading posts which resulted
in the major losses in manpower and finances for the group.
 USA has sent hundreds of military advisors to Iraq to train and equip
the Iraqi security forces and Kurdish Peshmerga units to combat ISIS.

5.  Iran is an Islamic republic on the Persian Gulf with historical sites dating
to the Persian Empire. Extensive marble ruins mark Persepolis, the
empire’s capital founded by Darius I in the 6th century B.C. The modern
capital, Tehran, is home to opulent Golestan Palace, seat of the Qajar
Dynasty (1794–1925).
 Capital: Tehran
 Currency: Iranian rial
 President: Hassan Rouhani
 Supreme leader: Ali Khamenei

6.  Iran is located in the Middle East bordering Iraq, and the Caspian Sea.
 Iran ranks second in the world in natural gas reserves and third in oil
reserves.
 Second largest OPEC oil producer; output averaged about 4 million
barrels per day.

8. Nuclear conflict
Military conflict
Strait of Hormuz Issue
Hacked Drone Issue
Hezbollah bombings

9.  Main issue between US and Iran.
 Program was launched in 1950 with the help of US.
 1979: international nuclear cooperation was cut off.
 Program was disbanded by Ayatollah Ruhollah
 US demand to stop uranium enrichment.
 Unacceptable by Iranians.

10.  Dec 1984 With the aid of China, Iran opens a nuclear research center
in Isfahan.
 Iran continued work on its program till 2010.
 In 2010 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that Iran is now a "nuclear
state”.
 Iran’s perspective is to produce energy from Nuclear programme.
 US called it to an attempt to build a nuclear weapon.

11.  1st military conflict was seen in 1988, Iran laid mines against U.S. ships
in the Persian Gulf & the United States destroyed Iranian oil platforms
in response.
 Armed conflict between the United States and Iran is higher now than
at any point since 1988.
 Risk will only increase over the coming year as Iran’s nuclear program
continues to develop.

12.  Nuclear scientist was assassinated after a motorcyclist placed a bomb
under his car, Iran accused the United States of being behind the
killing.
 The prospect of an Israeli strike against Iran to stop its nuclear program
has risen as Iran has continued its nuclear production and moved
uranium enrichment underground.
 Joint Military training of US and Israel is also a great concern for Iran.

13.  The Strait of Hormuz is the primary maritime waterway through which
some 40 percent of the Western world's oil supplies are shipped.
 At its narrowest, the strait is 21 nautical miles (39 km) wide.

14.  War in 1980s b/w Iran and Iraq happened due to the Strait of Hormuz.
 And if Iran plans to block it now, there could be a military strike from
USA on Iran.
 If Iran block strait of Hormuz, the West World’s economy will tremble.
Fuel price will raise at record level.
 Concern for Iran is the movement of foreign planes and warships.
 If this continues Iran may think for this option.

15.  On 4 December 2011, an American drone RQ-170 sentinel captured by
Iran near Kashmar.
 Drone was brought down by Cyber warfare unit.
 aircraft was detected in Iranian airspace some 225 km from the border
with Afghanistan.
 US denied this claim first.
 In, December 2011 US official said that it was a US drone.

17.  Dec 9, 2011 Iran lodged a formal complaint to the UN security council
over the violating its airspace.
 On 12 December 2011, U.S. administration asked Iran to return the
captured U.S. drone.
 Next day Iranian defense minister dismissed the request and said ‘
instead of apologizing you are asking for the drone back.
 Iran has presented Russia with a gift of an exact copy of an advanced
US spy drone.
 Issue raised again

18.  The United States contends that Hezbollah has been involved in several
anti-American terrorist attacks including:
 The April 1983 United States Embassy bombing which killed 17
Americans.
 The 1983 Beirut barracks bombing which killed 241 U.S. peace keepers
in Lebanon.
 The 1996 Khobar Towers bombing.
 An American district court judge ruled in 2003 that the April 1983 United
States Embassy bombing was carried out with Iranian support.
 United States District Court Judge declared that the Iran was responsible
for the 1983 attack in a 2003 case brought by the victims' families.

20.  The 2015 nuclear deal successfully curtailed Iran’s nuclear program.
 Since the deal was signed Tehran has violated UN Security Council
resolutions.
 Hassan Rouhani warned that:
“Any imposition of sanctions at any level and under any pretext will
constitute a violation of the JCPOA and [Iran] would be obligated to take the
necessary action … and stop its activities committed under the JCPOA.”
 The Trump administration crossed Khamenei’s ostensible red line by
imposing additional sanctions against 25 individuals and entities connected
to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
JCPOA: Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

21. Obama’s Administration
 Sought to ignore and defuse such
tensions with Iran.
 Actively encouraged global investment in
Iran.
 Reluctant to vigorously counter Iran’s
regional activities for fear of jeopardizing
the nuclear deal.
 Only employed one aspect of this
formula—engagement—to try to compel
Iran to reconsider its longtime regional
policies.
Trump’s Administration
 Appears eager to confront them. Iran is
“on notice.”
 Trump administration has reversed course.
 Trump has routinely denounced the deal
as a “disaster” and recently began to taunt
Tehran.
 Seeks to counter Iran’s regional policies,
its strategy is missing two essential
ingredients: multilateralism and U.S.
engagement.

23.  The international community is implementing the landmark nuclear deal
between Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers - the US, UK, France,
China and Russia plus Germany.
 Iran signs an agreement in the UN to not undertake any nuclear bombings
against US.
 US should formally apologize to the Iranian nation in front of UN security
council as it has violated Iran’s airspace.
 US should stop supporting Israel to fight against the Islamic states, then
Iran will also stop funding Hezbollah.
 Iran threatened to slam shut the strait to any oil tankers destined for global
markets, Iran should stop passing statements that are not constructive
because it damaging its relationships with US and other nations.

24.  One of Trump’s core beliefs: “When attacked, hit back harder.”
 Trump’s decision making has been marked by impulsiveness more than
restraint.
 Trump’s social-media outbursts may cause an inadvertent conflict.
 Trump’s ambitious inaugural promise to “eradicate radical Islamic
terrorism completely from the face of the Earth,”
 This lack of strategic patience is precisely why the prospects for conflict
with Iran are greater than they’ve ever been.