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Has US Forgotten Lessons Of its First War With Iran?

America has already fought one war with Iran, writes Bruce Riedel, and we should remember the lessons we learned from it. We can expect to be blamed for anything that goes wrong. Iran will not be easily intimidated by America, and ending a conflict is harder than starting one. Finally, we should be careful to weigh even close allies' advice.
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As the United States and Iran enter what may be their last best chance at negotiations before a war against Tehran’s nuclear program, it is useful to remember that America has already fought one war with the Islamic Republic. 

In the late 1980s, President Ronald Reagan intervened in the Iran-Iraq war on the side of Saddam Hussein to tilt the conflict to an Iraqi victory. America engaged in a bloody if undeclared naval and air war against Iran, while Iraq fought a brutal land war. The lessons of our first war with Iran should be carefully considered before we embark on a second.

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