IRAN By Rick Rosinski

Geography

Tehran Gateway into Iran Tehran’s Azadi Square Azadi Freedom Tower Built in 1971 Made of 8000 stone blocks Renamed during the Revolution

MUHAMMAD REZA SHAH PAHLAVI                                                             Shah of Iran (1941-1979) In the 1960's and 1970's Diplomancy with the Soviet Union and communist states in eastern Europe. Close connections with the USA. Foreign aid to stay in power. In 1953 assistance from the USA to return from a 3-day exile. Mohammad Reza Shah was removed by the Islamic revolution of 1979 5-year plans of the mid-1970's had failed.

Ayatollah Khomeini Leader of Iran’s Shiite Muslims Lead Islamic fundamentalist revolution Held over 50 U.S. embassy workers hostage for over a year. He had thousands of Iranians put in prison or executed for opposing his ideas. In the 1980’s Saddam Hussein ordered an invasion of Iran, which led to the Iran-Iraqi war. Iranian leaders used the invasion to rally the people behind the Khomeini government.                               

1979 Iranian Revolution Iran becomes an Islamic Republic in 1979 Supporter of the Shah is Lynched, Tehran, 1979

Revolution Images Students of Iran stormed the American embassy in Tehran,Seizing Americans at gunpoint And holding them as prisoners. Members of the Shah’s secret police take to the streets to stop riots. Graffiti on a wall of the U. S. embassy reads, ”We will make America face a severe defeat.” When the Shah was allowed into the U. S. for medical treatment for his cancer, the Iranian people took to the streets.

Anti-American Sentiment                               : Iranians celebrated their 23rd anniversary Of their Islamic Revolution. But they also burned puppets of Uncle Sam and President Bush to protest Bush’s charges that Iran is part of an“axis of evil.”