Cold War Divides the World How is the Middle East influenced by the Superpowers?

US tries to influence Iran 1941: Mohammed Reza Pahlavi becomes Shah after his father’s death, embraces west, secular ideas & oil companies 1951: Muhammad Mossadeq is elected Prime Minister, he is backed by Iranian nationalists & Ayatollahs (religious leaders) Mossadeq nationalizes Iran’s oil fields, Shah Pahlavi flees 1953: CIA sponsors a counter-coup  removes Mossadeq & puts Shah back in power Shah begins to weaken the Ayatollahs’ powers 1978-79: Ayatollah Khomeini returns, starts a revolution, Shah flees, Khomeini creates Islamic theocracy Overthrown! Islamic students storm US embassy and hold Americans hostage for 444 days

Iran/Iraq War After Iran Hostage Crisis, US worried Soviets will support Iran, US supports Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein US backs Hussein because: Hussein had established a secular government was cracking down on Iraqi communists Hussein goes to war against Iran. US sends weapons (including poison gas) to Hussein to fight Iran Fearing Hussein could gain too much power US secretly sends weapons to Iran during the war, war ends in 1988, no clear winner Soviets Invade Afghanistan Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev puts puppet Communist Gov in Afghanistan 1979:Afghanis dislike “puppet” Communist Gov, rebels begin an Islamic Revolution

Dec 1979: Puppet Gov is losing, Soviets must send in troops Soviets expect easy win, but rebels called the Mujahedeen are being aided by the US, Pres Carter cuts off grain supplies to Soviets US aid is not enough, so US increases aid & weapons, Mujahideen start winning. Soviet economy is struggling due to costs of the war Soviets withdraw in 1989 After war, US doesn’t send any more aid to Afghanistan. Mujahideen split into two groups Taliban & Northern Alliance each try to win control