Transcript The Iranian Revolution

The Iranian Revolution
By Angela, Kitty, Meaghan,
Mohammad, and Noemi
Iran- Quick facts
• Iran is centrally located in
Eurasia.
• Iran’s population was 58
million at the time of the
revolution.
• Iran’s influence is derived from
its vast oil reserves.
• Iran’s geographic position
enables it to potentially
eliminate traffic from and to
both the Persian Gulf and the
Gulf of Oman.
• Experienced an Islamic
Revolution in 1979.
Map of Iran,
the former Iranian flag,
and the current Iranian flag.
The Sides of the Revolution
•
The main parties directly involved: the Shah,
supported by the state’s military versus the
Ayatollah, and their following of Islamic
religious extremists as well as other
nationalistic rebels.
•
The Shah was also supported by the United
States, who was responsible for putting him
in power.
•
During the revolution, the Shah lost much of
his support because numerous members of
the military refused to fire on their own
people. Many Junior officers sided with the
Ayatollah to begin with.
•
There is strong evidence pointing to the USSR
providing funding to the Ayatollah.
•
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Iran’s revolution began with
a Democratic movement, and
ended with the creation of
The world’s first Islamic state.
The Revolution- Why
• Iran attempted to remain neutral
during WWII.
• However, the Allied powers needed oil
to supply their troops.
• These troops invaded Iran, disposed of
the Shah, and seized Iran’s oil.
• A democratic government was set up
once the Allies left.
• This government was very nationalistic
and was not in favour of opening its oil
market to foreigners.
• The Americans launched a coup to
replace the democratic government
and reinstated the Shah’s son.
• This coup is known as Operation Ajax.
• The new Shah was given absolute
power.
The original Shah, the democratically
elected Prime Minister,
and the coup that ended his reign.
The Revolution- Why
• The Shah launched a vast campaign for
the modernization of Iran’s economy as
well as its society.
– This initiative angered traditionalists
as well as religious fundamentalists.
– These groups also felt that the Shah
was to friendly to the United States.
• Many also opposed the Shah’s decision
to sell oil to America.
• Another complaint was that the Shah
had crossed his constitutional
limitations.
• In addition, Iran’s Islamic clergy felt
that its traditional influence was being
eroded by the Shah’s policies.
– The clergy was led by the Grand
Ayatollah Khomeini
(Cont’d)
Shah (King) M. Pahlavi
Grand Ayatollah
R. Khomeini,
The Revolution- What
• Khomeini forged a coalition of anti-Shah
groups.
– This group included secular groups who
underestimated Khomeini and felt they
could control the revolution.
• The protestors managed to disrupt Iran
and posed a threat to the monarchy.
• The Shah fled and left the prime minister
in charge.
• The prime minister ordered a crack down
on revolutionaries, but much of the
military refused to fire on Iranian
citizens.
• Lacking support, the prime minister
resigned.
• Khomeini assumed control of the country
and turned Iran into an Islamic republic
through a referendum.
Anti-Shah protest
Anti-Shah militants
Outgoing PM
Post Iranian Revolution
• The post-revolution era saw the siege of the
American embassy in Tehran and the
subsequent hostage crisis.
– Dozens of American staffers were taken hostage.
– The Iranians held these hostages for many
reasons.
– One major reason was that the Ayatollah was
anticipating an American invasion and wanted to
hold some sort of collateral.
• The most significant result of the Iranian
Revolution was the loss of a key American
ally in Eurasia.
• Iran moved into the Soviet sphere soon after
the revolution.
• This loss forced America to seek out new
allies in the region.
• Consequently, America imposed a new policy
of containment in Iraq, Pakistan, and
eventually Afghanistan.
Hostage and hostage takers. The
second man to the right is the
current president of Iran.
Post Iranian Revolution
(Cont’d)
• The Americans engaged in
numerous attempts to pressure
Iran into submission.
• The most prominent were:
– The Iran-Iraq war (a proxy war)
– The failed Nojeh coup
• The Americans were also actively
attempting to resolve the hostage
crisis.
• The Iran-Contra affair also
occurred in the post- revolution
era.
• President Jimmy Carter would lose
his re-election bid for his failure in
handling this affair.
Donald Rumsfeld meets Saddam
Hussein to discuss the proxy war.
Image of the Iran-Iraq war.
Views- The President
• The Shah asked Carter for help seeing
as they were allies.
• Carter decided he couldn’t intervene
because doing so would result in
antagonizing the Iranian public, he did
however lend the Shah political and
diplomatic support.
• The president had also realized that the
Shah could not stop the revolution.
• However, Carter allowed the ailing
Shah to enter America for cancer
treatment.
• This action enraged the Iranians, who
responded by seizing the American
embassy.
• Carter finally considered military
options at this point.
Carter meeting the Shah
Captured
American envoy
Views- The New Iranian Gov’t
• The Ayatollah was always resentful of foreign interference in
Iranian matters, particularly the U.S’s attempt to westernize
Iran.
• The Ayatollah dubbed America the “Great Satan”.
• He also declared the American embassy to be a “den of
spies”.
• The Ayatollah was enraged when he heard that the Shah had
been granted protection in America (he had intended to have
him executed).
• Anti-Americanism became so strong that a group of young
religious extremists seized the American embassy and held
staffers hostage.
• This action was sanctioned by the Ayatollah.
• The Iranians were unsure of what to expect from the new
president, Ronald Reagan, so they freed the hostages on the
last day of Carter’s presidency.
Views- The American Public
• The American public favoured the
Shah over the Ayatollah, but did not
care enough to demand
intervention.
• The public was brought out of their
indifference by the hostage crisis.
• Most of the public called for military
action whereas a smaller segment
favoured diplomatic talks.
• A failed rescue attempt also
brought on suspicions of
incompetence regarding Carter.
• These suspicions led the public to
electing Ronald Reagan in 1980.
Wreckage from the failed rescue
attempt (Operation Eagle Claw)
The new American
president Ronald Reagan.
Fishbone Timeline
•Many events that occurred in the
1970s led to the eventual Iranian
Revolution of 1979
–The Oil Boom of 1974
–Military Spending
–Economic Recession
•Unemployment
•Iranians blamed a lot of their
problems on the Shah’s close ties
with America and his beliefs of
Westernization
Many protests were held
against the Shah’s government;
The first prominent
demonstration was held on
January 1978 in the city of Qom;
Religious groups protested
against a story which attacked
Khomeini;
Army was sent in.
August 1978, the attack in the
Cinema Rex Fire;
Violence escalated killing over
400 people;
Bombed by Islamist
demonstrators, but people
thought that the SAVAK was the
culprit behind this scheme;
 Tens of thousands Iranians
went onto the streets to protested.
December 1978, marked
a break point in protest;
Over two million people
protested and demanded
for “the removal of the
Shah and the return of
Khomeini.
The Shah turned to the
United States;
September 1978, the nation was
destabilizing;
U.S. had promised to
back them up fully;
Protest became a regular occurrence;
 By then, high-level
officials in the U.S. had
already decided that the
Shah’s government had to
go.
September 8, Black Friday, also the
first day that marital law returned;
Troops and tanks attacked crowds of
protesters;
Organizers of demonstration claimed
that more than 3000 casualties
Iranian people became more and
more alienated from the Shah’s regime.
January 16, 1979, the
Shah and empress were
force to leave Iran to Egypt;
New government led by an
old opponent, Shah
Bakhitar
All remnants of the Pahlavi
dynasty were destroyed;
SAVAK was dissolved;
Political prisoners were
freed.
Ayatollah Khomeini was the
most popular leader after the
Shah Regime;
After fifteen years in exile, he
was finally allowed to return from
France on February 1.
A week after his return,
Khomeini ordered his
followers to go against
Prime Minister Bakhitar;
One million
demonstrators demanded
Bakhitar’s resignation.
Youthful revolutionaries seized
government buildings and radio
stations;
Iran became a judiciary
government ruled by Islamic
Sharia;
Huge quantities of arms had
been stolen by Khomeini followers;
Banned alcohol, gambling,
nightclubs, and mixed bathing;
Streets were roamed by armed
militias;
Men and women must be
segregated everywhere;
40 000 or so Americans returned
to the United States, fearing for
their safety.
Anyone who did not obey this
must be punished; and any
spreading of corruption would
result to death.
There were more Khomeini followers;
They exercised more power;
 Ultimately, rebel soldiers gained the
upper hand and began to take over
police stations and military bases;
February 11, non-Islamist government
and the Prime Minister surrendered;
Khomeini appointed Mehdi Bazargan
as the Prime Minister.
Former colleagues,
generals, and friends of
Shah was taken away;
Without holding trials, they
were all executed
immediately, dismissing
international protests.
November 1, 1979, Shah was
admitted into the United States to
treat for his cancer;
Khomeini urged his people to go
against the United States which
he called as the “Great Satan”
The US Embassy was a “den of
spies”
November 4, 1979,
Khomeini followers known
as the Muslim Student
Followers of the Imam’s
Line gathered in front of
the Embassy;
The embassy was seized
as the guard of Marines
were greatly outnumbered;
Out of the 90 occupants,
63 were held hostage.
For several day, Khomeini did
not make any comment regarding
the hostages;
American President Jimmy
Carter wanted to appeal for the
hostages on humanitarian
grounds;
November 12, oil imports from
Iran ended in an attempt to put
pressure on Iran economically
and diplomatically.
April 24, 1980, President Carter
approved the secret rescue
mission, Operation Eagle Claw;
Mission was unsuccessful, as
two helicopters broke down in the
sandstorm, and another crashed
during landing;
Second rescue attempt was also
unsuccessful.
The Muslim Student Followers of the
Imam’s Line demanded that the U.S.
deliver Shah to Iran in exchange for the
safe return of the American hostages;
Mid November, hostage takers
released women hostages and African
American hostages;
Carter administration refused.
Jimmy Carter lost the
Presidency to Ronald
Reagan
July 27th, 1980, Shah died
of cancer;
September 1980, Iran was
invaded by Iraq;
Iran wanted to solve the
hostage crisis;
January 20,1981,
hostages were released
ending the 444 day hostage
period.
With Iraq invading their home soil,
the Iranians became more and more
desperate to resolve the hostage
crisis.
Importance to the Cold War
• The Hostage Crisis
– This began during the
Revolution, and continued long
into the Iran/Iraq war.
– This is a prime example of
brinkmanship, as the Ayatollah
had no way of predicting the
US’s reaction.
– The Hostage Crisis reflects Cold
War life, as it shows the
constant tension and fear that
everyone lived in.
Importance to the Cold War
• The Iran/Iraq War
– This war is more like a typical
proxy war. The United States
supported the invading, oil-rich
forces of Iraq, while the USSR
drew on the “enemy of my
friend” theory yet again, and
Sided with Iran.
– Iran was also a great aid to the
USSR, as it gave them a
foothold in the middle east, and
provided a main supply of oil to
fuel the war.
(Cont’d)