History of IranHistory of Iran

Persian EmpirePersian Empire

HistoryHistory Persia—Historical name Persia—Historical name

for Iran (Name changed to Iran for Iran (Name changed to Iran in 1935 at the request of the in 1935 at the request of the Shah)Shah)

Persians are an Ethnic Group Persians are an Ethnic Group descended from the Aryansdescended from the Aryans

Ruled by dynasties; ruler Ruled by dynasties; ruler is Shahis Shah

Spoke Persian (Farsi) dialectSpoke Persian (Farsi) dialect

Persia and IslamPersia and Islam 650 A.D. Conquered by 650 A.D. Conquered by

Islamic ArabsIslamic Arabs Entirely new language, religion Entirely new language, religion

and culture was imposed on and culture was imposed on the Persiansthe Persians

Under the Safavid dynasty Under the Safavid dynasty (1500s), Iran became the (1500s), Iran became the largest Shi'ite country in the largest Shi'ite country in the Muslim world, which it still is Muslim world, which it still is today.today.

Persia and EuropePersia and Europe 1722—Beginning of European 1722—Beginning of European

invasion and influence in invasion and influence in the regionthe region

Persia sandwiched between a Persia sandwiched between a growing Russian Empire in growing Russian Empire in Central Asia and the Central Asia and the expanding British Empire in expanding British Empire in IndiaIndia

Never directly invaded, both Never directly invaded, both Great Britain and Russia Great Britain and Russia created a “sphere of created a “sphere of influence” over Persia influence” over Persia

Sphere of InfluenceSphere of Influence: : when a country falls under when a country falls under the political influence of the political influence of another country; becomes another country; becomes almost like a subsidiary of almost like a subsidiary of the more powerful country.the more powerful country.

Persia and Great Persia and Great BritainBritain

After WWI, claimed as a British After WWI, claimed as a British protectorateprotectorate

ProtectorateProtectorate: a state or : a state or territory controlled by a more territory controlled by a more powerful state. It is not a powerful state. It is not a possession of the controlling possession of the controlling state. The controlling state state. The controlling state typically directs foreign typically directs foreign relations and defense. The relations and defense. The relationship is established by relationship is established by treaty. treaty.

1921: Reza Shah Pahlavi 1921: Reza Shah Pahlavi installed as the ruler of the installed as the ruler of the Pahlavi dynastyPahlavi dynasty

Ruled for 16 yearsRuled for 16 years Pushed out British attempt at Pushed out British attempt at

controlcontrol Began to modernize and Began to modernize and

secularize politicssecularize politics Central government reasserted Central government reasserted

power over the indigenous power over the indigenous people.people.

Post War IranPost War Iran 1941 new Shah Reza Shah 1941 new Shah Reza Shah

Pahlavi who ruled until 1979Pahlavi who ruled until 1979 International hope that Iran International hope that Iran

would be a constitutional would be a constitutional monarchy with Parliament monarchy with Parliament maintaining most of the power.maintaining most of the power.

Shah had a “hands off” style Shah had a “hands off” style of managing.of managing.

Oil in IranOil in Iran

Oil discovered in 1908Oil discovered in 1908 British exerted influence British exerted influence

through British Petroleum through British Petroleum CompanyCompany

1951 the Prime Minister 1951 the Prime Minister forced Parliament to forced Parliament to nationalize the British nationalize the British owned/run oil industryowned/run oil industry

In return for US support, the In return for US support, the Shah agreed to allow a Shah agreed to allow a consortium of countries: consortium of countries: British (40%), US (40%), British (40%), US (40%), Dutch (14%) and French (6%) Dutch (14%) and French (6%) to run Iranian oil facilities for to run Iranian oil facilities for 25 years.25 years.

This left 0% of the control and This left 0% of the control and profits to Iran.profits to Iran.

Islamic RevolutionIslamic Revolution

1979 Protests forced the Shah 1979 Protests forced the Shah to fleeto flee

Transformed Iran from a pro-west Transformed Iran from a pro-west monarchy to an Islamic theocracymonarchy to an Islamic theocracy

Control won by Ayatollah KhomeiniControl won by Ayatollah Khomeini New government is extremely New government is extremely

conservativeconservative

Former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini

Significant EventsSignificant Events

1979—Militant Iranian 1979—Militant Iranian Students seized the US Students seized the US Embassy in Tehran and Embassy in Tehran and held hostages for 444 days. held hostages for 444 days. Failed US rescue mission Failed US rescue mission

1980-88—Iran/Iraq War: 1980-88—Iran/Iraq War: Known as the First Persian Known as the First Persian Gulf War. Gulf War.

Significant EventsSignificant Events

1980-88—Iran/Iraq War: 1980-88—Iran/Iraq War: Known as the First Persian Gulf Known as the First Persian Gulf War (until the 1990 Persian War (until the 1990 Persian Gulf War). Gulf War).

Sparked by a territorial Sparked by a territorial disputes primarily related to disputes primarily related to the Shatt-al-Arab waterway at the Shatt-al-Arab waterway at the head of the Persian Gulf.the head of the Persian Gulf.

ShattShatt-al--al-

Arab Arab waterwaterwayway

Significant EventsSignificant Events The war was disastrous for The war was disastrous for

both countries—both countries—stalling economic stalling economic developmentdevelopment

disrupting oil exportsdisrupting oil exportscosting an estimated costing an estimated 1.5 million lives. 1.5 million lives.

Iraq was left with serious Iraq was left with serious debts to its former Arab debts to its former Arab backersbackersincluding $14 billion including $14 billion US dollars loaned by US dollars loaned by Kuwait, a debt which Kuwait, a debt which contributed to Saddam's contributed to Saddam's 1990 decision to invade 1990 decision to invade Kuwait.Kuwait.

Significant EventsSignificant Events Much of both sides' oil industry was Much of both sides' oil industry was

damaged. damaged. The end of the war left the borders The end of the war left the borders

unchanged. unchanged. 1990 as war with the western powers 1990 as war with the western powers

loomed, Saddam recognized Iranian loomed, Saddam recognized Iranian rights over the eastern half of the rights over the eastern half of the Shatt al-Arab, reverting to the status Shatt al-Arab, reverting to the status quo which he had repudiated a quo which he had repudiated a decade earlier.decade earlier.

A satellite image showing the Persian Gulf

Now, what about their Now, what about their nuclear nuclear

capabilities?????capabilities?????