Brief History of Iran

Age of Imperialism

Russia & Britain gained Spheres of Influence in Iran after WWI

Increasing dislike of Western powers

Made himself shah in 1925

Ended western control in Iran and began modernizing the country

Shah Reza Khan

Used oil money to modernize

Many changes, US became ally

U.S. supported him over a leader elected by the people

Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi

Rich got richer, poor got poorer People didn’t like change, or the influence

of US, and were unhappy about the economy

1979 Shah treated in US for cancer while mobs in Tehran sacked US embassy, demanded return of Shah to stand trial

Returned from exile in France to overthrow shah -Iran's Islamic Revolution

Ayatollah

Khomeini

Established a theocracy & was its first leader

Islamic fundamentalist – believed Shariah (law based on Koran) should be law of the country

Protested U.S. support of Shah - Hostage Crisis

U.S. supported Iraq in the Iran-Iraq war from 1980-1988

President of Iran from 1989 until 1997Renews ties with West, maintain Islamic state but modernizes

President Akbar Rafsanjani

Leader of Iran whose ideas and policies are controversial

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Decreased relations with US

Supported nuclear energy and weapons programs

Opposed the existence of Israel

Claimed US was behind 9/11 attacks

Current religious leader of Iran (Supreme Leader)

He and council of elders validated election of Ahmadinejad

Ayatollah Khamenei

Hassan Rouhani

Current president of Iran (elected June 2013)

Increased Iran’s diplomatic relations

Encourages personal freedom and free access to information