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The tension between the United States and Iran has increased since the very beginning of 2012. The Western world is imposing increasingly strict sanctions against Iran, and there is a growing call in the United States for launching a war against Iran. Shortly after a 10-day large-scale military drill in the Persian Gulf, Iran announced plans for another large-scale exercise in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, the United States and Israel plan to hold a joint missile defense exercise. The increasing tension between the two sides has aroused wide media concern that any little conflict could erupt into a large-scale war. The root cause of the feud between the United States and Iran is the shift in the Middle East power balance. Iran seeks regional power status, but the United States and Israel consider it a threat to their interests, thereby containing Iran through every means possible. Iran's rise as a regional power is the most notable trend in the Middle East geopolitics in recent years, and is a result of multiple factors. Domestically, Iran's independent technological research and development capacity keeps strengthening in recent years and Iran has made quite large progresses in many areas including the missile, warship, aviation and nuclear technology. Not long ago, Iran captured an advanced American unmanned aerial vehicle, indicating that Iran's comprehensive military strength has reached a very high level. |
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