Studying The US Foreign Policy in the Region Toward the Persian Gulf with a Focus on Iran’s Role (1969-1979)

With the announcement of the withdrawal of British Forces from east of Suez and the Persian Gulf, after World War ∏, America as a western super power gradually expanded its influence in the Persian Gulf region to prevent the expansion of Soviet Union’s influence in the region. Raising the issue of power vacuum and change in the balance of power, America while preparing political and propaganda grounds, announced its official presence in the Persian Gulf region as the protector of the west’s interests. Given the strategic importance of Persian Gulf in regional foreign policy of America in 1969 based on Nixon-Kissinger doctorine, a policy called Twin Pillars policy, was adopted to keep domination on the region at the expenses of the local governments to indigenize regional issues. Based on that policy, Iran was a military pillar and Saudi Arabia was a financial pillar. The us twin pillars policy continued for about 10 years. With the occurrence of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 and as result of it, the loss of Iran’s support for that policy as one of its pillars, regional strategy of America in Persian Gulf failed during 1970s. In this article, It has been tried to study the position of the Persian Gulf in foreign policy of America in the framework of Nixon doctorine focusing on Iran’s role during 1969-1979. Research method in this article is based on library and archival resources. using descriptive and analytical type.