1. The Islamic Republic of Iran

2. Physical Geography 3x the size of France Largest country in Middle East Borders 7 countries and 2 bodies of water Has 2 major mountain ranges within its borders Climate: o arid/semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast 10% arable land Placement in the area's oil shipping routes

3. Demographics 79 million Farsi is main language o After Revolution 90% speak Turkic,/Azeri/Turkman, Gilaki/Mazandarani, Kurdish and Arabic also spoken 61% Persian

4. Demographics Tehran is the Capital Tehran, Qom, Isfahan are largest cities 67% population lives in urban areas

5. Oil & Other Resources 150 billion barrels of oil 4.2 million barrels produced per day Will have enough oil for next 99 years

6. History Safavids (1501-1722) Qajars (1794-1925) Pahlavis (1925-1979) Islamic Republic (1979-????)

7. Safavids (1501-1722) Directly related to Imams Conquered territory with Turkic tribes Part of Gunpowder Empires Converted population to Shi'ism Tolerated other Religions like Judaism and Christianity As people of the book

9. Qajars (1794 - 1925) Safavid Empire collapsed when Afghan tribesmen invaded Leaders not descendents of Imams Courts are refilled with scribes

10. Qajars (1794 - 1925) Constitution Revolution (1905-1909) o Constitution modeled on European liberal secular system but made concessions to Shi’ism Central government does not have a real army, bureaucracy or tax collection machinery and cannot administer provinces

11. Pahlavis (1925-1979) General Reza Khan came to power through coup d'état After 4 years deposed Qajars and became Shah Ruled with iron fist, built much infrastructure Abdicated throne to son

12. Pahlavis (1925-1979) Muhammad Reza Shah Ruled 1941-79, amassed incredible wealth Increased infrastructure & education Faced problems with: o Free Press o Opposition Parties o Mosaddeq/Nationalist movement

13. Pahlavis (1925-1979) 1951 Mosaddeq is elected prime minister 1953 CIA funded coup gives Shah with absolute power State becomes centralized

14. Iran Under the Shah State rests on 3 pillars o Armed forces, Bureaucracy, Royal Patronage System Strict SAVAK secret police Many ministries created Education expanded Provincial governors, mayors and electoral supervisors elected by Interior ministry o Allows Majles elections to be rigged o Rubberstamp for Shah created

15. Iran Under the Shah Country modernizes o More railways and roads o More factories Agriculture increases Land reform with "White Revolution" State controls bank and five year plans State has monopoly on Radio and TV Oil production and revenue increase

16. Iran Under the Shah Westernizes Iran Shari'a law replaced Modern judicial system and Supreme court Family Protection Law Supports secular state Changes from Islamic to Royalist calendar Shah retitles himself Attempts religious reeducation in countryside

17. The Tipping Point Shah lives in excess o billions in Casinos, Resorts, Hotels o Pahlavi Foundation controls companies 1975: Iran is one party state Citizens oppressed o SAVAK o Censored media o Constitution is disregarded Shah seen as megalomaniac, puppet of imperialists and destroyer of culture

18. Islamic Revolution (1977-79) Newspaper publishes harsh review of Shah 1977 economic difficulties International pressure to curb human rights violations Protests begin in Qom "Bloody Friday" on September 8th, 1978 Strikes

19. Islamic Revolution (1977-1979) Police and judicial system replaced o Shari'a law implemented Anti-regime rallies in Tehran have mass support Secret Revolutionary committees maintain contact with Khomeini

20. Islamic Revolution (1977-1979) Islamic fundamentalist ("political Islam") Denounces Shah for exploiting the masses More political revolutionary than dogmatic theologian Exile in Iran and Paris Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

21. Islamic Revolution (1977-1979) Khomeini's beliefs: Democracy through Islam Senior clergy are part of velayat-e faqih (jurist guardianship) Clergy are people's true representatives Clergy champions for rights of people Shah is replacing traditional values with cultural imperialism

22. Islamic Revolution (1977-1979) Soldiers desert to opposition Shah flees Iran Khomeini returns February 11, 1979 Armed groups took over radio stations to announce new voice of Iran First televised revolution

23. Islamic Republic (1979-Present) 97% of voters endorsed change Liberal voters wanted a Democratic Islamic Republic Highly theocratic constitution written by Assembly of Religious Experts Assembly of pro-Khomeini high ranking clerics Voters who disagreed were intimidated into siding with Khomeini o "Divine duty" to vote

24. Islamic Republic (1979-Present) 99% of voters approve constitution Mehdi Bazargan (PM) advocates French style republic but is ignored o Media gives him a bad image o Resigns after hostage crisis Constitution gives much power in Khoemeini

25. Islamic Republic (1979-Present) Power easily consolidated during 1st decade o No one would challenge Khomeini o Khomeini popular and Charismatic o Iraq invades in 1980 so nation comes together o Oil prices rise and country can fund internal development

26. Islamic Republic (1979-Present) Challenges occur in 2nd decade o Khomeini dies in 1989 o Successor, Ali Khamenei, not as charismatic and lacks credentials o Iraq-Iran war ends o Oil prices drop o Disciples and court divide into conservative and liberal wings

27. Islamic Republic (1979-Present) Mohammad Khatami Elected 1997 More moderate More westernized Proposes Grand Bargain to US o Recognition of Israel o Nuclear Program o Hamas and Palestine o Ends with Axis of Evil Speech

28. Iran After September 11th War on terror brings US and Iran closer o Help influence Shi'is to install pro-american government o Help displace Taliban in Afghanistan Tensions rise with Axis of Evil Spech Iran and US come to "stand off"

29. Possibility of Confrontation US Advantages: Large military and many allies Can influence Europe/UN Bases surrounding Iran Iran's Advantages: Large land mass - too large to occupy Oil revenue Can influence US presence in Middle East

30. International Issues Main driving force for Iranians is Nationalism Quest to unite all muslims has ended Iran is mending ties Becoming more moderate, especially with Khatami Ahmadinejad is less moderate

31. International Issues Poor relations with most European nations and US o Nuclear Program Middle East Relations Generally will always act in National Interest vs. Cultural/Religious Interest

32. Internal Issues Economic development o Fluctuating oil prices o Relies too much on oil o Debate between whether to fuel with socialist or capitalist approach Expanded Agriculture Unemployment Struggle for Islamic Democracy

33. Challenges Iran Faces Some still call for muslim Jihad (crusade) Clergy is dividing into left, and right wings Islam seen as inherently militant In cultural clash/standoff reminiscent of cold war

34. Challenges Iran Faces Views self as vanguard of muslim world but must act in national interest Struggle for democracy and more liberal Iran