Compliance in International Relations: A Study of US Behavior toward Iran (2015-2025)

Abstract

This research examines acquiescence as a historically significant characteristic of international relations, employed by powerful core states seeking to maximize their interests and achieve their strategic objectives. This is clearly evident in their foreign policy behavior toward peripheral and less powerful states, or those that oppose their political orientations and hinder the realization of their interests. This is particularly apparent in the political behavior of the United States toward Iran. Bilateral relations, in all their dimensions, between two or more actors are fundamental to the continuity of the international order. The Iranian nuclear issue during the period 2015–2025 represented a complex interplay between pressure, acquiescence, and resistance. Iran demonstrated its ability to utilize acquiescence as a tool for managing its relations with major powers, within an approach that combines preserving its sovereignty and political system with engaging in the international system. Therefore, this research presents the phenomenon of acquiescence in international relations through a case study of Iran. The research focuses on American behavior toward Iran and the pressure exerted by the United States. The research adopted a historical and descriptive-analytical approach, combining theoretical and applied frameworks. A power-based approach was also employed to examine American behavior toward events with Iran during that period. The results indicated that acquiescence is not inherently a weakness, but rather a multi-dimensional strategic tool used by states to manage international pressures, influenced by both internal and external factors.