Cold War Divides the WorldCold War Divides the WorldHow is the Middle East influenced by

the Superpowers?

US tries to influence Iran• 1941: Mohammed Reza Pahlavi becomes Shah after his father’s

death, embraces west, secular ideas & oil companies

• 1951: Muhammad Mossadeq is elected Prime Minister, he is backed by Iranian nationalists & Ayatollahs (religious leaders)

• Mossadeq nationalizes Iran’s oil fields, gets rid of Pahlavi

• 1953: Worried Soviets may gain influence in Iran, CIA sponsors a counter-coup that removes Mossadeq & puts Pahlavi back as Shah

• Shah begins to weaken the Ayatollahs’ powers

• 1978-79: Ayatollah Khomeini starts a revolution & Shah is overthrown, Khomeini creates Islamic theocracy

•Islamic students storm US embassy and hold Americans hostage for 444 days

Overthrown!

Iran Hostage Crisis Questions1. What positive things did the Shah bring to Iran?

2. What negative things did the Shah bring to Iran?

3. What happens to the Shah in 1953?

4. Who restores the Shah to power?

5. What reforms does the Shah bring to Iran?

6. Where does the Shah send Khomeini in 1964?

7. How do Iranians respond when President Carter allows the Shah into America?

8. How many days are the hostages held captive? Who is president when they are released?

Iran/Iraq War• Worried Soviets will support Iran, US supports Iraqi dictator Saddam

Hussein

• Hussein had established a secular government and was cracking down on Iraqi communists

• 1980: Iraq goes to war against Iran, US sends weapons (including poison gas) to Hussein

• Fearing Hussein could gain too much power US secretly sends weapons to Iran during the war, which lasts from 1980-1988

Soviets Invade Afghanistan

•Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev puts puppet Communist Gov in Afghanistan

•1979:Islamic revolution begins against Communist Gov, rebels winning

• Soviets expect easy win, but struggle against Islamic guerilla rebels called the Mujahideen

• Dec 1979: Soviet Union invades Afghanistan

• US begins aiding Mujahideen – Pres Carter cuts off grain to USSR & boycotts Olympics

• Soviet economy is struggling because of the cost of the war. Soviets also losing the war– Soviets withdraw in 1989

• After war, US doesn’t send any more aid to Afghanistan. Mujahideen splits into two groups Taliban & Northern Alliance each try to win control