Abstract
<jats:p>One of the most difficult challenges for American society in the 1960s was the Vietnam War. By the beginning of Richard Nixon’s presidential term, the American armed forces were bogged down in a local conflict far from their own borders. The need to use the US army in Vietnam was questioned by the American public. The decision to withdraw American troops was becoming more and more obvious. At the same time, it was unacceptable for the United States to voluntarily give up its position in the confrontation with the Soviet Union. The compromise solution was the so-called «Nixon doctrine», which envisioned reducing the use of the US Armed Forces in local conflicts and expanded support for local allies in maintaining security in different regions of the world. In the context of Middle East policy, the «two pillars policy» was pursued. Saudi Arabia and Iran were the main pillars of American policy in the Middle East, with Tehran playing a dominant role. First of all, this decision was dictated by Iran’s less radical position on the Palestinian issue. The «Nixon Doctrine» predetermined American policy towards Iran for a decade to come. For Tehran, this policy has become a great opportunity to increase its military potential by purchasing the latest American weapons. In turn, Iran remained the most important economic partner for the United States, ensuring uninterrupted oil supplies. Strengthening the defense capability of the Iranian army has made it possible to maintain stability in the region and support the monarchies of the Persian Gulf loyal to Washington. However, increased defense spending has had a detrimental effect on the development of the civilian sector of the Iranian economy. In the face of the looming economic crisis, the low welfare of citizens and the repressive policies of the Shah, the inflated military budget only worsened the situation. The contradictions accumulated in society eventually led to the overthrow of the Shah, whose army could no longer serve as the «gendarme» of the Middle East.</jats:p>