The 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran changed the geo-political landscape of the Middle East. The new regime in Tehran, hostile to the United States, threatened American interests in the region. In response, the United States adopted a policy of containment aimed at restoring a regional power balance favorable to the United States. Since that time, broader U.S. policy in the region has been driven in large measure by pursuit of this policy. Minimizing Iranian influence became a critical component of regional stability centered on the U.S. relationship with the Gulf Arab states. This thesis attempts to answer the question of whether the contemporary geopolitical environment warrants reexamination of America's efforts to isolate and contain the Islamic Republic of Iran. By comparing the geostrategic environment as it existed when the policy was adopted, and taking into account the events that transpired as a result, a comparison can be made to the environment as it exists today to make an assessment of whether any changes dictate adoption of a new policy. The recent signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the rise of Sunni Salafist extremism in the form of the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, the evolving economies of the global oil market and the consequences of the Arab Spring have wrought significant changes to the region. After thirty-seven years of policy aimed at minimizing Iranian influence, there is a growing perception in the region that Iran is ascendant and its influence is only growing. The question the United States needs to ask is whether its opposition to this resurgence only fuels greater instability.

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