US POLICY TOWARDS THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN DURING THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR (1980-1988)

Tehran's commitment to exporting its revolution across the region remained a constant and serious threat to regional stability. The official line of US policy towards the Persian Gulf, enshrined in National Security Directive 26 and signed by President Bush. in October 1989, confirmed the existing view that Iran, not Iraq, poses a major threat to US interests in the region. In fact, the new presidential administration continued the course inherited from President Reagan, in which attempts were made to build political and commercial relations with Iraq in the hope of softening Baghdad's foreign policy and balancing Iranian power.However, by the spring of 1990, it became apparent that US efforts to cooperate with Iraq had failed. What little remained of the policy of constructive engagement came to an end with the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. The strategic implications of such Iraqi actions were grave. If Baghdad's aggression succeeds, control over the oil fields of the Persian Gulf would be in the hands of Iraq. Saddam's influence on OPEC decisions on production levels and prices would be noticeably greater, which would allow him to raise oil prices and provide more funding for the country's armed forces. Establishing Iraqi control over Kuwait would set a terrible precedent for international relations. For six months, from August 1990 to mid-January 1991, the United States and much of the world tried to use diplomacy and sanctions to persuade and pressure Saddam Hussein to withdraw Iraqi troops from Kuwait and recognize the latter's independence.International condemnation, economic and political sanctions against Iraq were able to weaken this state. Iran supported international efforts, complied with the trade embargo, but in fact simply waited until the Western coalition weakened its main rival for power in the region.To sum up, in the 80-s, XX century the concept of systemic containment of the Islamic Republic of Iran was formalized, the basis of which was made up of three components: military-political, economic and ideological. Depending on the specific situation in the Middle East, the United States paid special attention to one of them as an instrument of pressure on Tehran.CONCLUSIONIn our work, the evolution of American-Iranian relations during the Iranian-Iraqi war was examined. Based on the work done, the following conclusions can be drawn.In 1978-1979 the Islamic Revolution took place in Iran, which was caused by a complex of reasons, both socio-economic and political in nature. An important role in the growth of protest sentiments was played by the pro-Western policy of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi.The events of 1953 led to the expulsion or liquidation of the opposition members of the National Front of Iran, which led to the unification of the protest forces around the clergy, which would further ensure the formation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, where the supreme power would go to Imam Khomeini. After the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the seizure of the American embassy, ​​relations with the United States moved from the cooperation of the Shah's era to a bitter confrontation.In the 80-s the concept of systemic containment of the Islamic Republic of Iran was formalized, the basis of which was made up of three components: military-political, economic and ideological. 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