Iranian Exceptionalism and Iran-US Relations: From 1979 to 2021

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2 MA, International Relations, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Iranian exceptionalism has been a major factor in preventing rapprochement between the US and Iran. There are two major factions within the foreign policy establishment of the Islamic Republic representing “reconciliation discourse” and “resistance discourse”. These two can be seen as sub-discourses within the Islamic Revolution discourse engaged in a struggle over its “correct” interpretation. The “reconciliation discourse” seeks development as the main goal of Iran’s foreign policy, and, hence, considers reconciliation with the US to be a precondition to that goal. Its arguments imply that Iran is not an exceptional country. The resistance discourse, on the other hand, is deeply exceptionalist and deems resistance against the US and maximalist independence to be the main objectives of Iran’s foreign policy. This discourse strongly opposes mending ties with the US because such a move would be understood as a threat to Iran’s exceptionalism. 

Keywords

Main Subjects


Article Title [Persian]

استثناگرایی ایرانی و روابط ایران و آمریکا: از 1979 تا 2021

Authors [Persian]

  • Homeira Moshirzadeh 1
  • علی نظیف پور 2
1 Law and Political Science

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Ansari, M. A. (2012). The Politics of Nationalism in Modern Iran. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Fars News Agency. (2019, September 18). Elat-e moghavemat dar barabar-e America nofuz-e farhang-e Hosseini ast [The Reason for Resistance against the US Is the Influence of Imam Hussein's Culture]. Retrieved from http://fna.ir/dc16am.
Farzaneh, A. (2015, June 10). Siast-e moghavemat dar Ghor'an [Resistance Policy in the Qur'an]. Retrieved from Kayhan Newspaper Website: http://kayhan.ir/fa/news/46947
Fazaeli, M. (2017, June 10). Hazineha-ye gazaf-e sazaesh ba America [The High Cost of Surrender to the US]. Retrieved from Mashregh News: mshrgh.ir/735165
Ghaderi Kangavari, R. (2015). Nazariye-ye moghavemant va nazariyeha-ye gharbi ravabet-e beinolmelal [Resistance Theory and the Western Theories of International Relations]. Tehran: Mokhatab.
Ghazanfari, K. (2013). Raz-e ghat-nameh [The Secret of the Resolution]. Tehran: Kayhan Publications.##Howarth, D. (2000). Discourse. Buckingham: Open University Press.##ILNA News Agency.
(2013, June 22) Bayad yek enghelab dar cinema anjam dahim [We Need to Revolutionize the Cinema].##Retrieved from https://www.ILNA.news/fa/tiny/news-80928
Iranian Diplomacy. (2013, May 14). Rouhani: Americayiha kadkhoda hastand va bastan ba kadkhoda rahattar ast [Rouhani: The Americans are the Village Boss and It's Easier to Deal with the Boss]. Retrieved from http://irdiplomacy.ir/fa/news/1916161
IRNA News Agency. (2018, June 9). Sardar-e sazandegi va karnamei mandegar [The Reconstruction Commander and a Lasting Legacy]. Retrieved from www.irna.ir/news/82790556/
ISNA. (2016, November 3). Bayaniyeh-ye setad-e kol-e niruha-ye mosalah be monasebate geramidashte 13 aban [The Statement by General Staff of the Armed Forces in Honor of Aban 13th]. Retrieved from https:// www. isna.ir/news/95081208428/
Jahan News. (2019, June 15). Rouhani: Siasate khareji ma bar asas-e siaset-e bord-bord asr [Rouhani: Our Foreign Policy is Based on the Win-Win Principle]. Retrieved from http://www.jahannews.com/news/690339
Keddie, N. R., & Gasiorowski, M. J. (1990). Neither East nor West: Iran, the Soviet Union, and the United States. New Haven; London: Yale University Press.
Khatami, M. (n.d.). Dialogue Among Civilizations: Contexts and Perspectives. Retrieved from The UN Website: https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/ article/ dialogue-among-civilizations-contexts-and-perspectives
Khosravi, A. (2012).  Maktab-e amniati Imam Khomeini: Mabadi Faranazari va Nazari Amniat dar Goftman-e enghelab-e eslami [The Thoughts of Imam Khomeini Regarding Security: the Theoretical and Meta-Theoretical Foundations of Security in the Islamic Revolution Discourse]. Tehran: Tehran International Studies and Research Institute.
Mashregh News. (2015, July 7). Moghayeseh-i mian didgah do rouhani darbar-e solh-e Imam Hassan [A Comparison between the Views of Two Clerics on the Peace of Imam Hassan]. Retrieved from mshrgh.ir/439969
Mohammadi, M. (2016, July 2). Taslim payan-e sazesh ast [Surrender Is the End of Reconciliation]. (Tasnim News Agency, Interviewer)
Moshirzadeh, H. (2007). Discursive Foundations of Iran's Nuclear Policy. Security Dialogue, 38(4), 521-543.
Mousavian, S. H., & Shahidsaless, S. (2014). Iran and the United States: An Insider's View to a Failed Past and the Road to Peace. New York: Bloomsbury.
Neumann, I. B. (2008). discourse Analysis. In A. Klotz, & D. Prakash (Eds.), Qualitative Methods in International Relation: A Pluralist Guide (pp. 61-77). New York: Palgrave McMillan.
Nymalm, N., & Plagemann, J. (2019). Comparative Exceptionalism: Universality and Particularity in Foreign Policy discourses. International Studies Review, 21(1), 12-37.
Pear, R. (1988, July 21). Khomeini Accepts 'Poison' of Ending the War with Iraq; U.N. Sending Mission. Retrieved from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/21/us/khomeini-accepts-poison-of-ending-the-war-with-iraq-un-sending-mission.html##Pirouz, B. (2015, October 7). Monazere barjam [The JCPOA Debate]. Retrieved from https://www.aparat.com/v/6dbE8
Rahimpour, R. (2018, January 8). Iran bans English from being taught in primary schools. Retrieved from BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42610755
Raji, M. M. (2013). Agha-ye safir [Mr. Ambassador]. Tehran: Ney Publication.
Rezai, M. E. (2019, December 14). Oroupayiha goftardarmani mikonand/gam-e panjom ra ham barkhahimdasht [Europeans Do Talk Therapy/We Will Take the Fifth Step]. (Tasnim News Agency, Interviewer)
Rouhani, H. (2011) Amniat-e meli va diplomacy-ye hastei [National Security and Nuclear Diplomacy]. Tehran: Center for Strategic Research.
Saam Daliri, K. (2019, March 6). Moghavemat dar barabar America: chera va ta kei? [Resistance against the US; Why and Until When?] Retrieved from Javan Online: https://www.javann.ir/003yiJ##Sadr Hosseini, R. (2019, July 16). Hazine sazesh dar siasat-e khareji az moghavemat bishtar ast [The Price of Surrender Is Steeper than Resistance in Foreign Policy]. Ana News Agency. Retrieved from https:// ana.press/i/398442
Sariolghalam, M. (2010). Aghlaniat va tose'eyaftegi-ye Iran [Rationality and Iran's Development] (6th ed.). Tehran: Farzan Publishers.
Shafaghna News Agency. (2019, February 24). Zarif: Esteghlal dar siasat-e khareji bedin ma'na nist ke az jahan monfak bashim [Zarif: Independence in Foreign Policy Does Not Mean Separating Ourselves from the World]. Retrieved from https://fa.shafaqna.com/news/712526/
Shargh Daily. (2018, September 24). Movafeghan va mokhalefan-e FATF che miguyand? [What do the Supporters and Opponents of FATF Say?] p. 2.
Stempel, J. D. (2009). Inside the Iranian Revolution. Wasgington D.C.: The Clark Group.