History of IranEssential Question: How has the

relationship between the U.S. and Iran become what it is today?

The Geography of The Geography of IranIran

The Geography of The Geography of IranIran

Constitutional Revolution, 1906-1911

• Ruling Qajar Dynasty = weak, inefficient– Social class discontent– Protestors want political change

• Shah creates parliament (Majlis) & constitution

Agha Mohammad Khan

Bakhtiari Revolutionaries in camp outside Esfahan (June 1909)In front, in a white coat with a sword, is Mohammad Ebrahim

Khan, Zabet of Julfa.Source: www.iranchamber.com

Coup D’Etat, 1925

• Shah resented foreign influence (oil!)– British & Russians competed for domination– Allied forces in WWI– Britain controlled more territory

• British helped military takeover over gov’t• Reza Khan crowned Shah of new

Pahlavi Dynasty– Modernization program

Abdication of Shah Reza Khan

• Shah Reza Khan friendly with Germany during WWII– British, U.S., & Soviet troops occupy Iran

• 1941 – Shah Reza Khan forced to abdicate– Gives power to son Mohammad Reza

• Effects– Hurts Iran’s economy– Weakens Iran’s gov’t– FamineGrowing resentment

of foreign influence!

Iran & Nationalization of Oil, 1951

• Protests begin against foreign control of oil

• Politician Mohammad Mossadegh forms National Front and is elected Prime Minister Promised to nationalize Iran’s oil

• Alarms the West– U.S. – secret operation by CIA &

“Seven Sisters” (major oil companies) to boycott Iran’s oil

– Boycott backfired

Iranian Oil Iranian Oil ResourcesResourcesIranian Oil Iranian Oil ResourcesResources

Return of the Shah

• PM Mossadegh dissembled Parliament, current Shah fled the contry

• CIA helped military units took over gov’t, imprisoned Mossadegh

• Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi returned to throne– “Dictatorship” from 1953-1960

– Supported by U.S. and Britain (due to oil) & is Pro-West

– The people of Iran do not necessarily agree

• Disbands National Front & imprisons its members– Forms SAVAK, a secret police

– Oppression, poverty

The Shah The Shah & His Wife, Farah& His Wife, Farah

The Shah The Shah & His Wife, Farah& His Wife, Farah

Iranian elite/upper- and intellectual classes: verypro-Western.

The White Revolution, 1963

Does Modernization = Westernization?Does Modernization = Westernization?

Conflict creates unrest with the people

Why a revolution?• Internal instability - economy worsens, human rights

issues, resentment over foreign influence & “Westernizing” of Iran, unhappy with Shah

• Shah’s troops open fire on student demonstrations– Protests continue

Ayatollah Khomeini

• Ayatollah = cleric, Islamic scholar• 1963 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

criticizes the Shah’s reforms and gov’t– Ayatollah Khomeini is anti-West– Saw Shah’s rule as hurting Islam– Fundamentalism = return to

traditional, conservative religious practices

• Shah orders Khomeini to be exiled– Protests break out, thousands killed

Anarchy & Anarchy & RevolutionRevolutionAnarchy & Anarchy & RevolutionRevolution

The Shah leaves Iran on 1/16/79.

The Shah leaves Iran on 1/16/79.

Ayatollah Ayatollah KhomeiniKhomeiniLeads the Leads the RevolutionRevolution

Ayatollah Ayatollah KhomeiniKhomeiniLeads the Leads the RevolutionRevolution

Khomeini returns to Iran on February 11,

1979.

Islamic Republic of Islamic Republic of Iran, 1979 Iran, 1979

Islamic Republic of Islamic Republic of Iran, 1979 Iran, 1979

• Ayatollah Khomeini as Supreme Islamic Jurist (Supreme Leader)• Had religious & political

control – THEOCRACY• Constitutional Compromise?

• Agreement between religious leaders & secularists

• Elections of President & Majlis• Guardian Council ensures laws do

not violate Islam

Iranian Hostage Iranian Hostage Crisis, 1979-1981Crisis, 1979-1981Iranian Hostage Iranian Hostage

Crisis, 1979-1981Crisis, 1979-1981• Why? Iranian students worry that U.S. will stage another coup• Protestors storm U.S. Embassy in Tehran

• 52 American hostages taken• 444 days

• Increased tensions between U.S. & Iran (U.S. did not approve of revolution)

52 American 52 American HostagesHostages

Released in Jan., Released in Jan., 19811981

52 American 52 American HostagesHostages

Released in Jan., Released in Jan., 19811981

Released the day Reagan became President

Iran Gives Iran Gives Support for the Support for the

Palestinian CausePalestinian Cause

Iran Gives Iran Gives Support for the Support for the

Palestinian CausePalestinian Cause

The Ayatollah with

Yasir Arafat.

Funds Hamas and Hezbollah.

The Iran-Iraq WarThe Iran-Iraq War(1980-1988)(1980-1988)

The Iran-Iraq WarThe Iran-Iraq War(1980-1988)(1980-1988)

• Iran and Iraq have border/territorial disputes

• Religious tensions since Iranian Revolution (Iran’s Shi’ite leadership)

• Iraq (under Saddam Hussein) invaded Iran

Khomeini’s Death, June 1989

Iranian Supreme Leader Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KhameneiAyatollah Ali KhameneiIranian Supreme Leader Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KhameneiAyatollah Ali Khamenei

The Ayatollah represents the fundamentalist Mullahs.

Recent Presidents of Iran

• Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, 2005 – 2012– Conservative

– Supports Iran’s uranium enrichment program

– Peaceful or for nuclear weapons?

– Not in favor of Israel’s statehood

– Not a friend of the West

– Economic problems, human rights issues

• Hassan Rouhani = current Pres.

Another Nuclear Another Nuclear Power?Power?

Another Nuclear Another Nuclear Power?Power?

US satellite photo of Iranian nuclear facility

near Arak.

Sources:

Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley HS

Chappaqua, NY

Choices Timeline

www.

Sources:

Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley HS

Chappaqua, NY

Choices Timeline

www.

BibliographyBibliographyBibliographyBibliography

“23 Year Pictorial History of Iran.” http://home.att.net/~iranshahr/

“Iranian.com.” www.iranian.com/Revolution/war.html.

“Iran Hostage Anniversary.” CBS News. www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/01/18/ iran/main265244.shtml.