The White House is dealing with mixed reactions from critics and supporters alike over its decision to go to war with Iran alongside Israel.

The ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran shows no signs of abating, affecting everything from diplomatic relations to the price of oil. But could

history perhaps provide us with clues on what to expect next, especially when the U.S. and Iran

were at one point allies. Hello, and welcome to USA Today's The Excerpt.

I'm Zuleykanathu, a producer and host with the special projects team.

Today is Thursday, March 19, 26.

On this episode, we'll explore the complex history between the U.S. and Iran to better

understand the circumstances that have led to the current

conflict and how it might be resolved. To help us do that is Ali Baez. He's the Iran Project

Director for the International Crisis Group, which is a non-profit geared toward building peace by

helping shape global policies. Thanks for joining us, Ali. Great to be with you. With all of the headlines about this

conflict, it's important now to take a step back and understand the history of U.S.-Iran relations,

so we can better understand what's happening now and why. So where would you say is a good place to

start? What did the relationship look like, let's say, several decades ago

between the two countries? Where you start would kind of determine where you end. Iran and the U.S.

had very good relations prior to 1979. Iran was the U.S. best ally in the Middle East,

its biggest importer of U.S. arms. It was really a linchpin of U.S.'s best ally in the Middle East, its biggest importer of U.S. arms.

It was really a lynchpin of U.S. policy in the region.

But, you know, this is simplification of a very complicated history.

In fact, in 1953, Iran had a democratically elected prime minister who wanted to nationalize Iranian oil and the

U.S. joined the United Kingdom in organizing a coup against Prime Minister Mossad al and toppling him.

And that created already the first rupture in the relationship.

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