U.S.-Iran Rivalry in the Shadow of China's Rise
America's partnership with the GCC The strategic rivalry between the United States and Iran represents one of the most enduring and volatile fault lines in the Middle East. At its core, the confrontation centers on competing visions for regional order, control of energy resources, and influence over critical maritime chokepoints. For Washington, Iran’s aspirations for regional primacy and its resistance to U.S. military presence threaten longstanding alliances and the free flow of energy. For Tehran, American sanctions, military deployments, and support for regional partners constitute an effort to contain its legitimate influence as a major Persian Gulf power. This bilateral rivalry has deep historical roots, intensified since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Today, it manifests in proxy conflicts across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, as well as in diplomatic maneuvering over Iran’s nuclear program. The United States maintains a robust network of security partnerships with Gulf Co...