Two protesters in Iran tearing a U.S. flag at an anti-American rally after the United States withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

Anti-American sentiment in Iran is not new; the chant "Death to America" has been in use in Iran since at least the Islamic revolution in 1979,[1][2] along with other phrases often represented as anti-American. A 1953 coup which involved the CIA was cited as a grievance.[3] State-sponsored murals characterised as anti-American dot the streets of Tehran.[4][5] It has been suggested that under Ayatollah Khomeini anti-Americanism was little more than a way to distinguish between domestic supporters and detractors, and even the phrase "Great Satan"[6] which has previously been associated with anti-Americanism, appears to now signify either the United States or the United Kingdom.[7][8]

Some studies show that anti-Americanism in Iran is related to support for political Islam.[9] US attempts to cripple Iran's economy have also significantly made Anti-American sentiment more common. Students from Tehran have been documented saying about US sanctions: “The more they push, the more it will lead to a rise in anti-Americanism.” and "It’s just a vicious circle."[10][11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Robert Tait, 'America wants Iran to be dependent on it and Iranians don't want that', 2 February 2006, The Guardian.
  2. ^ Philip Herbst (2003). Talking terrorism: a dictionary of the loaded language of political violence. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 6. ISBN 978-0-313-32486-4.
  3. ^ Tamim Ansary (2009) Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes: 334
  4. ^ Michael Dumper; Bruce E. Stanley (2007). Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: a historical encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 351. ISBN 978-1-57607-919-5.
  5. ^ Nathan Gonzalez (2007). Engaging Iran: the rise of a Middle East powerhouse and America's strategic choice. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. ix. ISBN 978-0-275-99742-7.
  6. ^ Sanger, David E.: "Bombs Away?", Upfront, The New York Times, 16
  7. ^ Johnson, Boris (22 June 2009). "What has Ayatollah Khamenei of Iran got against little old Britain?". The Daily Telegraph. Londo.
  8. ^ "World News » UK is Tehran's 'Great Satan'". Gulf Daily News. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  9. ^ Asadzade, Peyman (2019). "Faith or Ideology? Religiosity, Political Islam, and Anti-Americanism in Iran". Global Security Studies. 4 (4): 545–559. doi:10.1093/jogss/ogy038.
  10. ^ "Iran sanctions stoke anti-US sentiment".
  11. ^ "US Economic Sanctions Harm Iranians' Right to Health".
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