Explanation: Strange as it may seem, especially now, there was actually a strong possibility of rapprochement between the USA and Iran during the early Bush administration. The Pakistani-supported Taliban had been a nuisance to Iran, so the intervention in Afghanistan was not only welcomed, but supported. The Iraq invasion, while condemned by most of the world, rid Iran of one of its most hated enemies, Saddam Hussein. Thus, there was serious discussion by both high-ranking Iranians and Americans of the possibility of entering a new era of Iranian-US relations, including support from Qasem Soleimani. Realpolitik, after all, knows no creed! If our interests align, why should we not be less-than-enemies?

… these hopes were dashed by a single speech by the Bush administration. Applying their incompetence and malice to sabotaging even the possible positive side effects of their incompetence and malice, the Bush administration opted to designate Iran as part of the ‘Axis of Evil’, and establishing that the US had no interest in rapprochement with Iran, to the disappointment, distress, and surprise of American diplomats as well as Iranian leadership.