Iran

US Iran relations are strained over a variety of issues including Iran's backing of terrorist groups, the activities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its nuclear activities.

The Obama McCain Debate on September 26, 2008 clarified how each candidate envisions US - Iran relations in the near future.

The U.S. already considers Iran terrorism sponsorship a problem. In August 2007, the U.S. Decided one Iran terrorism designation was not enough, and sought to have the Iranian Revolutionary Guards put on the Foreign Terrorist Group list

In 2006, the State Department called Iran the "most active" state sponsor of terrorism in the world, for Iran's support of Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and potential to manufacture nuclear weapons.

The Revolutionary Guards were established in 1979 to protect the Iranian Revolution's goals. They export those goals by training Hizbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other groups.

The possibility of a nuclear Iran concerns much of the world, although Iran maintains that it has no plans to build nuclear weapons. This timeline details Iran's nuclear program, inspections and sanctions.

A country profile of Iran, which has been on the U.S. State Department list of state sponsors of terrorism since 1984.

The U.S. State Department in 2006 called Iran the "most active" state sponsor of terrorism in the world in its annual country report on terrorist activity.