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uses its influence around the world to stop the spread of nuclear weapons—though some countries, including Iran, see this as hyp- ocritical because the United States continues to build up its own military and nuclear capabilities. Iran has resisted this outside influence. If the stakes for peace and happiness in Iran were not so high, the frequency and manner in which Iran scorns input from the United States (and vice versa) might be almost comical.At the present,however, the ugly exchanges between the United States and Iran are disturbing.The U.S. presi- dent Donald Trump tweets offhandedly about using military force against Iran, while members of the Iranian parliament burn the U.S. flag. Both sides degrade themselves out of anger. Since the current government took power in 1979, the Iranian leaders have framed themselves as heroes fighting against a United States that supported an Iranian dictator. Iran is correct: The United States supported the pre-1979 government led by the shah of Iran. He was a dictator, and the United States continued to back him even while knowing he was oppressing and killing his own people. The government of Iran sees itself as the world’s most successful “dissident” opposing U.S. world influence. The government also sees itself as empowered by adherence to reli- gious tradition.

Iranians burn the American flag.

Introduction

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