Iran had put itself in isolation because of its radicalism, and after having helped the United States indirectly in the war against Iraq in 1991, the Iranians were hoping that they would be rewarded by being included in the post-war security architecture of the region.
O Irão tinha-se isolado devido ao seu radicalismo e, após ajudar indirectamente os EUA na guerra contra o Iraque em 1991, os iranianos esperavam ser recompensados ao serem incluídos na arquitectura de segurança  pós-guerra da região.