1. History of Iran
Essential Question: How has the relationship between the U.S. and Iran become what it is today?

2. The Geography of Iran

3. 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:

4. 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

5. 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
Famine
Growing resentment of foreign influence!

6. 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

7. Iranian Oil Resources

8. 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
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

9. The Shah & His Wife, Farah
Iranian elite/upper- and intellectual classes: very pro-Western.

10. The White Revolution, 1963 Does Modernization = Westernization?
Conflict creates unrest with the people

11. Why a revolution? Shah’s troops open fire on student demonstrations
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

12. 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

13. The Shah leaves Iran on 1/16/79.
Anarchy & Revolution
The Shah leaves Iran on 1/16/79.

14. Ayatollah Khomeini Leads the Revolution
Khomeini returns to Iran on February 11, 1979.

15. Islamic Republic of 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

16. Iranian Hostage Crisis, 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)

17. 52 American Hostages Released in Jan., 1981
Released the day Reagan became President

18. Iran Gives Support for the Palestinian Cause
Funds Hamas and Hezbollah.
The Ayatollah with Yasir Arafat.

19. The Iran-Iraq War ( )
Iran and Iraq have border/territorial disputes
Religious tensions since Iranian Revolution (Iran’s Shi’ite leadership)
Iraq (under Saddam Hussein) invaded Iran

20. Khomeini’s Death, June 1989

21. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
The Ayatollah represents the fundamentalist Mullahs.

22. 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.

23. US satellite photo of Iranian nuclear facility near Arak.
Another Nuclear Power?
US satellite photo of Iranian nuclear facility near Arak.

24. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY
Sources:
Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY
Choices Timeline
www.

25. Bibliography
“23 Year Pictorial History of Iran.”
“Iranian.com.”
“Iran Hostage Anniversary.” CBS News iran/main shtml.