1. In the ancient world, the land that would become known as Iran
was known as Persia.

2. officially known as Iran.
In 1935, the land became
officially known as Iran.

3. oil had attracted the British and
Iran was rich in oil and
oil had attracted the British and
the Russians.

4. In fact, the British and Russians
had divided Iran into spheres of
influence in 1907.

5. The U.S. also became increasingly interested in Iran after the
Second World War.

6. In 1953, the U.S. and Great Britain helped overthrow the
Prime Minister of Iran.

7. Prime Minister, Mohammed
Mossaddegh, was not openly
hostile to the Communists.

8. And during the Cold War, the Prime Minister’s views were
considered a threat to
American interests.

9. nationalized the oil fields,
By the time, Mossadegh
nationalized the oil fields,
the C.I.A. took action and
removed him from power.

10. In the Prime Minister’s place, Shah Reza Pahlavi was installed
as the new leader of Iran.

11. Westernization and secularism.
The Shah encouraged
Westernization and secularism.

12. The Shah cracked down on
dissenters.

13. But the Shah was unpopular
and an opposition movement
led by Ayatollah Khomeini
became very popular.

14. By 1979, the Shah had been
ousted, Americans had been
taken hostages in Iran, and
the Ayatollah came to power.

15. An Islamic fundamentalist government was established.

16. In this fundamentalist, Islamic
theocracy, women were
forced to cover their bodies
and were segregated from
men in public.

17. assembly were restricted.
Freedom of speech and
assembly were restricted.

18. protests erupted in Iran
After the 2009 elections,
protests erupted in Iran
for democracy.

19. But protesters were harshly
punished.

20. Yes, the history of Iran is a history of many changes.