PNN – The historical roots of the confrontation between the United States and Iran should be understood as Washington’s attempt to maintain its regional hegemony.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; Jeffrey Sachs—an economist and professor at Columbia University—remarked on the origins of this confrontation, stating that Washington’s primary issue is not merely a lack of trust in Tehran, but rather an opposition to the independence of a nation that refuses to remain under U.S. domination.
Sachs argues that the notion that Iran cannot be negotiated with does not necessarily stem from a lack of trust in Tehran; rather, it is rooted in Iran’s resistance to an objective the U.S. has set for itself: maintaining control and supremacy over the Middle East.
In the view of this economist, for certain elements within the U.S. power structure, the core issue is not Iran’s adherence to an agreement, but rather its acceptance of an order in which Washington has the final say.
Pointing to Iran’s historical background, this economist noted that the country possesses a political and civilizational history spanning approximately 2,500 years, whereas the United States has a history of only about 250 years.
Criticizing the American disregard for this historical disparity, he emphasized that Washington needs to know Iran better and show greater understanding and respect for its background and standing. In Sachs’s argument, this comparison underscores the point that Iran cannot be viewed merely as a nation subject to the will of foreign powers.
This university professor asserted that “a mindset rooted in domination permeates Washington—including the CIA, the Pentagon, military contractors, and even certain universities on the U.S. East Coast”—institutions which, according to him, conduct some of their international relations research with financial backing from the government or the Pentagon.
Within this framework, Sachs described Israel as an aircraft carrier or a military instrument for the United States in the region, adding that Washington views itself as a power entitled to determine who governs the countries of the region.
This university professor stated that Iran holds special significance for Netanyahu as well, given that Tehran supports the Palestinian cause and stands against Israel’s regional agendas.
Sachs characterizes the period from 1953 to 1979 as an era during which Iran effectively fell within the American sphere of influence. According to him, the 1979 Revolution altered this situation, giving rise to a new political system that was no longer subservient to the order envisioned by Washington.
He argues that the United States did not accept the loss of its influence over Iran, and the confrontation between the two nations has persisted ever since. This perspective forms the core of Sachs’s historical account regarding the origins of the rift between Tehran and Washington.