Great Power Intervention in Iran

Great Power Intervention in Iran: When to Begin? A.Alexander the Great? B.Arab Invasion? C.Genghis Khan? D.Great Game – Britain and Imperial Russia

Pahlavi Iran A.1925: Reza Khan formally becomes Shah – Qajars ousted B.“Modernization from above” C.Anglo-Persian Oil Co. concession annulled in 1932 D.UK pressure for a new contract – 1933 new concession

World War II A.Sour relations with British over Anglo- Persian Oil Company (later AIOC) B.An alliance with Germany?

Anglo-Soviet Invasion of Iran

World War II A.Sour relations with British over Anglo-Persian Oil Company (later AIOC) B.An alliance with Germany? C.1941 British-Soviet Invasion D.1941 Reza Shah abdicates – Establishment of Tudeh Party (pro-Soviet) – Mohammad Reza Shah becomes new king E.1942 Tripartite Treaty F.1944 Majlis outlaws foreign oil concessions

Post-WWII A.First crisis of Cold War: “Battle for Azerbaijan” – Soviet troops remain in Azerbaijan Province Required to withdraw from Iran by 2 March 1946 Troop movement towards Tehran, 4 March 1946 – Ambassador Ala speech to UN 21 March 1946

Post-WWII A.The end of Soviet influence – Truman pressures the Soviets – Ahmad Qavam’s empty promise to USSR – 1946 Soviet “agreement” Oil rights in exchange for troop withdrawal – Soviets leave Iran, 10 May 1946

Mossadeq & Nationalization A.The National Front – Alliance with Tudeh Party and with Kashani B.Gen. Ali Razmara becomes Prime Minister – Assassinated 7 Mar 1951 C.Majlis votes Mossadeq as new PM – 29 Apr 1951 D.Nationalization of AIOC E.Worldwide boycott of Iran

After the Nationalization A.Shah replaces Mossadeq with Qavam B.Mossadeq returns – Declares “state of emergency”

Mossadeq returns

After the Nationalization A.Shah replaces Mossadeq with Qavam B.Mossadeq returns – Declares “state of emergency”

After Nationalization: 1953 Coup A.Operation AJAX – 28 Mordad / August 19, 1953 B.Mohammad Reza Shah regains power

Mohammad Reza Shah A.Ending the Oil Crisis – 1954 Oil Consortium B.Renewed alliance with the West – Baghdad Pact 1955 – Creation of security forces in 1957: SAVAK C.The White Revolution – Pressure from Kennedy for “progressive” leadership – Khomeini: “White Revolution is a serious threat to Islam” – Exiled 1964

“Policeman of the Gulf” A.Image of a “strongman” B.Nixon Doctrine and the “Twin Pillars” – “Unlimited” quantities of nonnuclear weapons – IBEX and the surveillance of the Soviet Union – Fighting communism in the Persian Gulf C.The Shah’s OPEC speech – OPEC as a price-setter – 1974 Petroleum Law

But how secure was the Shah’s throne? Stay tuned…