1. THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION

2. IRAN AND THE WEST: A REALLY INCOMPLETE HISTORY  1901: British investor purchases an oil concession from the Shah of Persia  1908: Oil discovered in Persia  During WWII:  Reza Khan (Shah, or ruler, of Iran) declares neutrality  UK and USSR invade Iran  Reza Khan forced out of power; Mohammad Reza Pahlavi installed as Shah

3. IRAN AND THE WEST: A REALLY INCOMPLETE HISTORY  During the Cold War:  Stalin wants to keep troops in Iran  Truman stands behind the Shah; Stalin withdraws  1951: Nationalist Mohammed Mossadegh becomes prime minister  1951: Mossadegh nationalizes (takes over) the oil industry  Shah unsuccessfully tries to stop Mossadegh

4. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE US WILL DO ABOUT THIS? WHY?

5. THE CIA COUP PLOT 1. What is the CIA (in cooperation with the SIS, Britain’s intelligence agency) planning to do in Iran? 2. How democratic is this? 3. Bonus: What does this show about how the US worked during the Cold War?

6. THE FALL OF MOSSADEGH  Why overthrow Mossadegh?  Western economic interests  Containment – US feared the rise of Communists in Iran  US wants allies in the Middle East  August 1953: Mossadegh overthrown in a CIA- supported coup  The Shah comes back to power with US support

7. WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE SHAH? A LESSON FROM ARGOARGO

8. OPPOSITION TO THE SHAH What the Shah Did  Undemocratic rule  Took American support  SAVAK – brutal secret police; sometimes practiced torture  Promoted women’s rights, education, and secularization  Lavish lifestyle Who Opposed It  Democrats/anti-monarchists  Nationalists  Dissidents and people who don’t like torture  Islamists, clergymen, and anti- modernists  People who want a more equal distribution of wealth

9. RUHOLLAH KHOMEINI  Iranian religious leader (ayatollah)  1962: began protesting the Shah; persecuted in response  1964: deported to Turkey  Continued to agitate against the Shah in exile  Developed a blueprint for an Islamic state

10. 1979: THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION  1978-1979: Massive protests against the Shah  January: Shah is exiled  February: Khomeini returns to Iran  April: Voters approve a new constitution for Iran  November: Shah goes to US; students seize hostages at US Embassy

11. THE IRANIAN CONSTITUTION 1. How does this change the structure of Iran’s government? 2. Which opponents of the Shah have achieved their goals? a. Democrats/anti-monarchists b. Nationalists c. People who don’t like torture d. Islamists e. People who want a more equal distribution of wealth

12. SO WHAT?  Serious challenge to US power  Attempt to spread Islamism beyond Iran  Iran-Iraq War  1980: Saddam Hussein invades Iran  Estimated 1 million fatalities  Strengthened Islamists in Iran  Establishment of US military bases  Destroyed US relations with Iran