IRAN From Shah to Ayatollah PERSIA TO IRAN

IRAN From Shah to Ayatollah

PERSIA TO IRAN • LONG HISTORY - Strong dynasties, brave warriors, wars with Greece • RICH CULTURE - Mythology, Arts, Literature, Religion • PROUD PEOPLE

Persia to Iran • Persis - Greek word for the original tribe of the region - the Pars • Persia - Latin • 1935 Shah requests that the world refer to his country as Iran, as Iranians did. • Seen as pro-Nazi because Iran comes form eran or ”land of the Aryans” • Farsi (language) from parsi (no P in Arabic) • Parsis - the followers of ZOROASTRIANISM who migrated to India 1000 years ago.

Aryans Not Aryans

Religion - Zoroastrianism • Ancient monotheistic religion (600 BCE) • Emphasizes truth and order • Good works • “angels and demons”(forces of good and evil)

SHIA ISLAM • Shi’ism originates in Karbala Iraq and spreads over the border to Iran • More mystic and emotional • Ayatollahs have more power than Sunni clerics

Pahlavi Dynasty 1925 - 1979 • 1921 - Powerful general overthrows weak Qajar dynasty (Shah’s father) • 1925 - establishes dynasty, takes title Shah (king) • Goals are to modernize, westernize and secularize Iran (like Ataturk in Turkey) • Strong central government asserts power over tribes and provinces (resented by many) • 1930’s - 1940’s Pro- Hitler talk makes allies nervous

The Last Shah of Iran • 1941 - Allies force first shah out of power • Replace him with his son who is younger, weaker and easier to control • Same goals as father, uses harsh methods to enforce westernization • SAVAK - SECRET POLICE

The Mossadeq Crisis 1953 • Elected PM • More popular than Shah • Nationalist • Wants to take back control of oil fields • Threatens Western interests

CIA Plot to Overthrow Muhammad Mossadeq • CIA Spreads false information • Accuses him of being a communist • Spreads rumors that he’s crazy • Organizes Demonstrations • Arrested and tried

Results • Shah takes more power • Shah is unpopular with the people • Mossadeq a national hero • Iranian people resent US interference in their country

1960 - 1970’s • Shah becomes hated dictator • Seen as a puppet of the US • Considered an enemy of Islam because he forbids the “chador” and religious displays • Uses phony elections, censorship, arrest, torture and execution to hold on to power

The Rise of Khomeini • Ayatollah connects with the Iranian people even from exile • Consider him an inspiring leader • Not controlled by the west • Return to traditional Iranian values

Shah vs. Ayatollah • To the ordinary people: – The Shah represents Western domination, corruption and oppression. – The Ayatollah represents nationalism and a return to Iranian values and traditions.

FALL OF THE SHAH • 1978 - 1979 Unrest grows, riots and anti. Shah demonstrations • Jan. 1979 – Shah leaves Iran for medical treatment – His gov’t can’t maintain control – Khomeini returns as a hero – People vote to establish theocracy

The Islamic Republic • Women veiled • Non-Muslims removed from office • Sharaic law, harsh punishments • Western music banned • Arrests, torture & executions

HOSTAGE CRISIS NOV. 1979 • Shah admitted to US for medical treatment • Enrages student demonstrators in Iran • Storm US embassy in Teheran • Hold 52 Americans for 444 days

Reaction to Hostage Crisis • Pres. Carter freezes Iranian assets • Failed rescue mission kills 8 • Ross Perot rescues 2 from Iranian prison • Nightline, yellow ribbons

END OF HOSTAGE CRISIS January 20, 1981 • Iranians had demanded return of the Shah to stand trial - but he dies in 1980 • Reagan negotiates a deal that involves unfreezing Iranian assets (and some say arms to Teheran) • Announced at inaugural luncheon to embarrass Carter

1980 -1988 IRAN IRAQ WAR Border dispute as excuse for war US supports Iraq with arms and $ Promotes the career of Saddam Hussein Also may have supplied weapons to Iran ( to keep the conflict going) Iran suffers heavy casualties Iraq uses chemical weapons on battlefield

IRAN AS “ROGUE STATE” • US considers Iran outlaw nation • Iran supports terrorist group Hezbollah • 1983 Hezbollah kills US Marines in Lebanon • Iran seeks nuclear weapons

“FATWA” • In 1989 Ayatollah Khomeini issues a religious edict or fatwa condemning author Salman Rushdie for blasphemy against Islam • Satanic Verses • Radical Muslims across the world vow to kill him • Fatwa renewed in 2012

PRESIDENT KHATAMI • 1997 President Khatami elected as a “reformer” • Promises a better relationship with the West • More personal and political freedoms for Iranians

IRAN STUDENT MOVEMENT • Iranian students who once supported Khatami begin to protest because under his rule: • Student activists are beaten, tortured and killed • Gay teens are executed • Women are stoned

Shirin Ebadi - Political Activist Nobel Peace Prize 2003

IRAN’S GOVERNMENT

Iran’s Parliament

Ayatollah Khamenei • Supreme Leader • Succeeded Khomeini in 1989 • President 1981 - “ 89 • Survived assassination attempt • Revolutionary values of 1979 (anti-American)

President Ahmadinejad • • Elected 2005 Hardliner Anti-American, Anti- Israel, vows to “wipe Israel off the map” • Denies Holocaust • Supports Palestinians

Iran Student Movement 2009 “The Green Movement” • Opposition supports Moussavi • Protest the election results • Organized using social Media • Brutally suppressed • Basijj (gov’t thugs) • Neda

Grand Ayatollah Montazeri Uses Religion to Challenge Regime System Based On • Force • Oppression • Torture • Censorship • Murder Is Not Islamic or a Republic

Americans Held In Iran • 3 Hikers • Crossed Border • Arrested as Spies

Nuclear Ambitions • Nuclear program began in the 1970’s • Interrupted by Revolution • Claim to be building nuclear reactors for clean energy • Dual Use? Weapons?

Who gets to be the boss of nukes? • Iran under sanction for not cooperating with UN inspectors. • US does not believe that Iran’s claims of peaceful use only. • Suspicious of Russia’s involvement. • Fears arms race in the region • Fears that Iran will carry out its threats.

WESTERN IMPERIALISM • 1500’s - 1770’s Safavid Dynasty • 1700’s - 1900’s Qajar Dynasty • 1800’s - 1900’s Great Britain and Russia in Iran • 1907 GB and Russia create “Spheres of Influence” – OIL – Access to Persian Gulf 1914 -1918 they continue to occupy Iran to protect their interests