As an American myself, I’ve asked several people this question. No one seems to know why either. Is it strategic position in the world? I don’t think they have anything the US can exploit besides that really. Am I missing something? Political arguing aside what exactly is the motivation? Thanks for any explanations.
They were basically a hedge against USSR in the region for 50+ years. People forget that. Both powers were interested in carving up the world, and Middle East was one of the battlegrounds.