Unrest in Southwest Asia and North Africa · Unrest in Southwest Asia and North Africa The United...
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continued constructing and testing nuclear weapons. Iran’s Nuclear Program Iran’s nuclear program also alarmed the United States and other countries. Because Iranian governments expressed strong hostility to Israel, a U.S. ally, Israel voiced special concern. Iran began its nuclear program in the 1950s with American assistance. As an NPT member, Iran originally focused on developing nuclear power plants for peaceful purposes. In the late 1970s, however, evidence suggested that Iran was developing a nuclear weapons program. The United States and other countries worked to convince Iran to end that program. The U.S. government asked other countries not to sell nuclear technology to Iran. It imposed sanctions that harmed Iran’s economy. And, the United States partnered with other countries, as it had done in attempts to end North Korea’s nuclear program. The European Union (EU) joined in imposing sanctions against Iran. Major Western powers moved to restrict Iran’s access to the international financial system. These efforts limited Iran’s ability to sell oil, its most important export. This caused economic problems for Iran. In 2013, Iranians elected a new president, Hassan Rouhani, who was willing to negotiate with the United States and other powers over nuclear weapons. Negotiations to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons began in 2013, but mutual trust was difficult to establish, and the prospects for any deal were uncertain. RECALL What is the main purpose of the NPT? Unrest in Southwest Asia and North Africa The United States had strong ties to North Africa and Southwest Asia. This region lies where the continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe meet. It is a region inhabited by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. As in past years, old conflicts in this region continued after 2000, and new conflicts emerged. The United States was a close ally of Israel, a mainly Jewish nation. At the same time, the U.S. economy relied on the oil production of Muslim nations, such as Saudi Arabia. The United States tried to resolve conflicts in this region. It remained committed to supporting democracy, its allies, and its own national interests. Ongoing Arab-Israeli Tensions In 2003, President George W. Bush presented a “road 17.2 An Unstable World Meeting New Challenges >> U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (right) met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in 2013 to begin negotiations on limiting Iran’s nuclear activities. MGAH16_SE_T17.indd 901 MGAH16_SE_T17.indd 901 4/30/15 7:21 PM 4/30/15 7:21 PM 901
Transcript of Unrest in Southwest Asia and North Africa · Unrest in Southwest Asia and North Africa The United...
continued constructing and testing nuclear weapons.
Iran’s Nuclear Program Iran’s nuclear program also alarmed the United States and other countries. Because Iranian governments expressed strong hostility to Israel, a U.S. ally, Israel voiced special concern. Iran began its nuclear program in the 1950s with American assistance. As an NPT member, Iran originally focused on developing nuclear power plants for peaceful purposes. In the late 1970s, however, evidence suggested that Iran was developing a nuclear weapons program. The United States and other countries worked to convince Iran to end that program.
The U.S. government asked other countries not to sell nuclear technology to Iran. It imposed sanctions that harmed Iran’s economy. And, the United States partnered with other countries, as it had done in attempts to end North Korea’s nuclear program. The European Union (EU) joined in imposing sanctions against Iran. Major Western powers moved to restrict Iran’s access to the international fi nancial system.
These efforts limited Iran’s ability to sell oil, its most important export. This caused economic problems for Iran. In 2013, Iranians elected a new president, Hassan Rouhani, who was willing to negotiate with the United States and other powers over nuclear weapons. Negotiations to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons began in 2013, but mutual trust was diffi cult to establish, and the prospects for any deal were uncertain.
RECALL What is the main purpose of the NPT?
Unrest in Southwest Asia and North AfricaThe United States had strong ties to North Africa and Southwest Asia. This region lies where the continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe meet. It is a region inhabited by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. As in past years, old confl icts in this region continued after 2000, and new confl icts emerged. The United States was a close ally of Israel, a mainly Jewish nation. At the same time, the U.S. economy relied on the oil production of Muslim nations, such as Saudi Arabia. The United States tried to resolve confl icts in this region. It remained committed to supporting democracy, its allies, and its own national interests.
Ongoing Arab-Israeli Tensions In 2003, President George W. Bush presented a “road
17.2 An Unstable World Meeting New Challenges
>> U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (right) met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in 2013 to begin negotiations on limiting Iran’s nuclear activities.
MGAH16_SE_T17.indd 901MGAH16_SE_T17.indd 901 4/30/15 7:21 PM4/30/15 7:21 PM
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