Iran

Iran  Originally known as “Persia”  In 1925 the Dynasty that will be known as the Pahlavi Dynasty starts with the reign of Reza Khan  During World War II Iran remained officially neutral but…..  Reza Khan is removed and his son Mohammad Reza Pahlavi is made the new “Shah” or King of Iran  His Father

Reza Khan

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi-The “Shah”

Post World War II  The Shah wants to modernize his country, make it more western  Soviet attempt on his life  Fearing for his kingdom and his own authority as Shah of Iran, the King expands his power  There is democracy is in Iran  Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh does not like the Shah’s expansion of power OR the British control of Iranian oil fields. THEY ARE OURS!  The British, as a colonial power, used these oil fields however they wanted.

Mohammad Mossadegh

Truman and Mossadegh

NATIONALISM!

Nationalism  Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh does not like the Shah’s expansion of power OR the British control of Iranian oil fields. THEY ARE OURS!  The British, as a colonial power, used these oil fields however they wanted.  Prime Minister Mossadegh, elected by the people, attempts to nationalize the oil fields-take them away from the British.  The Shah said NO! And removes Mossadegh from Power, Mossadegh regains power  The Shah leaves Iran

HELP!!!

USA to the Rescue!  Great Britain asks President Eisenhower to have the CIA overthrow (coup) Mossadegh  Operation AJAX  The Mossadegh is overthrown and put under house arrest  The Shah returns and grabs even GREATER power. “I must keep my country safe!”

SAVAK  سازِمانِ اطلاعات وَ امنیَتِ کِشوَر  Organization of Intelligence and National Security  The SHAH would closely monitor political opponents with this organization. Punish, torture, imprison, fill in the blanks

The White Revolution  Attempt to modernize, Westernize all of Iran  MANY of the people opposed these modernizations, including Ayatollah Khomeini  Many of the policies were antagonistic towards Muslims, although the Shah was Islamic and all Iranians  Protests and riots are widespread. SAVAK arrests and (fill in the blank) dissidents.  By 1979 the Shah gets out of Iran and the exiled Khomeini returns as a hero

Khomeini

Islamic Republic of Iran