Changes

The '''History of Iran''', historically known to the West as [[Persia]], stretched back to 600 BC.  For recent events see [[Iran]].

The '''History of Iran''', historically known to the West as [[Persia]], stretched back to 600 BC.  For recent events see [[Iran]].

Perdia was once a major empire in its own right, has been overrun frequently and has had its territory altered throughout the centuries. Invaded by Arabs, Seljuk Turks, Mongols, and others--and often caught up in the affairs of larger powers--Iran has always reasserted its national identity and has developed as a distinct political and cultural entity.  

Perdia was once a major empire in its own right, has been overrun frequently and has had its territory altered throughout the centuries. Invaded by Arabs, Seljuk Turks, Mongols, and others—and often caught up in the affairs of larger powers—Iran has always reasserted its national identity and has developed as a distinct political and cultural entity.  

==Ancient==

==Ancient==

see [[Persian Empire]]

see [[Persian Empire]]

During [[World War II]] Iran was openly partial to the Axis cause. A joint Anglo-Soviet military action began on 25 August 1941 when 40,000 Soviet troops entered Iran from the north and headed for Tehran. On the same day about 19,000 British Commonwealth troops, mostly in Indian brigades, entered from various directions. There was slight resistance on the part of Iranian troops but no force Iran could not have withstood the power of the occupying armies of British Empire and the Soviet Union, and German assistance by air was now as far away as Crete. On 30 August 1941 identical notes were submitted by the invading powers to the Iranian Government which accepted their terms on 9 September. On 16 September the Shah abdicated in favor of his son, [[Mohammed Reza Pahlevi]], and left the country. The next day Tehran was jointly occupied by the British and Soviet troops without show of military force.

During [[World War II]] Iran was openly partial to the Axis cause. A joint Anglo-Soviet military action began on 25 August 1941 when 40,000 Soviet troops entered Iran from the north and headed for Tehran. On the same day about 19,000 British Commonwealth troops, mostly in Indian brigades, entered from various directions. There was slight resistance on the part of Iranian troops but no force Iran could not have withstood the power of the occupying armies of British Empire and the Soviet Union, and German assistance by air was now as far away as Crete. On 30 August 1941 identical notes were submitted by the invading powers to the Iranian Government which accepted their terms on 9 September. On 16 September the Shah abdicated in favor of his son, [[Mohammed Reza Pahlevi]], and left the country. The next day Tehran was jointly occupied by the British and Soviet troops without show of military force.

The terms imposed by Tri-Partite Treaty of alliance signed on 29 January 1942 disavowed any designs against the territorial integrity of Iran or independence. Iran agreed to refrain from any act contrary to British or Soviet interests. <ref>[http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/persian/chapter01.htm#b2 United States Army in World War II], The Middle East Theater The Persian Corridor and Aid to Russia, T. H. Vail Motter, Center of Military History United States Army Washington, D.C., 2000.  Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 52-60791. First Printed 1952-CMH Pub 8-1.</ref>

The terms imposed by Tri-Partite Treaty of alliance signed on 29 January 1942 disavowed any designs against the territorial integrity of Iran or independence. Iran agreed to refrain from any act contrary to British or Soviet interests.<ref>[http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/persian/chapter01.htm#b2 United States Army in World War II], The Middle East Theater The Persian Corridor and Aid to Russia, T. H. Vail Motter, Center of Military History United States Army Washington, D.C., 2000.  Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 52-60791. First Printed 1952-CMH Pub 8-1.</ref>

Soviet political "agitprops," graduates from the Lenin Institute in Moscow, were dispatched to exploit whatever resentment and hostility toward the "imperialist warmongers" of the West they might encounter or stir up. The [[Tudeh party]], founded early in 1942, at once began to lay the ground work for the Communist uprisings which followed World War II. The Tudeh party, guided by the Soviet officials who at the same time were supervising the movement of American [[lend-lease]] aid to the Soviet Union through Iran, began openly agitating against the Anglo-Saxon "exploiters."  By 1944 Iran's mushrooming, Soviet-financed Tudeh press openly called the British and Americans "[[fascists]]," "[[reactionary|reactionaries]]," and "[[imperialism|imperialist]]." <ref>[http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/6315/yaltabet.html ''The Yalta Betrayal''], Felix Wittmer, Claxton Printers, 1953, pg. 20, 54.</ref>

Soviet political "agitprops," graduates from the Lenin Institute in Moscow, were dispatched to exploit whatever resentment and hostility toward the "imperialist warmongers" of the West they might encounter or stir up. The [[Tudeh party]], founded early in 1942, at once began to lay the ground work for the Communist uprisings which followed World War II. The Tudeh party, guided by the Soviet officials who at the same time were supervising the movement of American [[lend-lease]] aid to the Soviet Union through Iran, began openly agitating against the Anglo-Saxon "exploiters."  By 1944 Iran's mushrooming, Soviet-financed Tudeh press openly called the British and Americans "[[fascists]]," "[[reactionary|reactionaries]]," and "[[imperialism|imperialist]]." <ref>[http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/6315/yaltabet.html ''The Yalta Betrayal''], Felix Wittmer, Claxton Printers, 1953, pg. 20, 54.</ref>

When Mossadegh received word, he began mass arrests. Two days of chaos ensued. Rioters smashed statues of the Shah and his father and screamed, "Death to the Shah!"  With assurances from the CIA, the Iranian Army turned against the officers Mossadegh installed, and drove rioters off the streets.  On August 19, Mossadegh turned himself over to the Shah's forces and was jailed along with Tudeh leaders.  In December he was sentenced to three years in solitary confinement.  The Iranian economy and living standards of the people gradually recovered as oil exports regained a market share which had been decimated during the previous two years.  The Shah, who could not be seen as too close to the West because of Iran's domestic situation, nevertheless expressed his understating of the importance of Iran's position in the region, and the world, as a bulwark against [[Containment|Soviet expansionism]].

When Mossadegh received word, he began mass arrests. Two days of chaos ensued. Rioters smashed statues of the Shah and his father and screamed, "Death to the Shah!"  With assurances from the CIA, the Iranian Army turned against the officers Mossadegh installed, and drove rioters off the streets.  On August 19, Mossadegh turned himself over to the Shah's forces and was jailed along with Tudeh leaders.  In December he was sentenced to three years in solitary confinement.  The Iranian economy and living standards of the people gradually recovered as oil exports regained a market share which had been decimated during the previous two years.  The Shah, who could not be seen as too close to the West because of Iran's domestic situation, nevertheless expressed his understating of the importance of Iran's position in the region, and the world, as a bulwark against [[Containment|Soviet expansionism]].

The Shah recognized and secured formal diplomatic relations with [[Israel]] and did he participate in the Arab oil embargoes during the [[Six Day War]] of 1967 and [[Yom Kippur War ]] of 1973. The US and British Mediterranean Fleets were provided with oil by the Shah.  During the Yom Kippur War the Shah deterred [[Sadam Hussein]] from playing any role by moving Iranian troops to the border, and with covert aid to the [[Kurds]] of Iraq which kept the Iraqi Army diverted.

The Shah recognized and secured formal diplomatic relations with [[Israel]] and did he participate in the Arab oil embargoes during the [[Six Day War]] of 1967 and [[Yom Kippur War]] of 1973. The US and British Mediterranean Fleets were provided with oil by the Shah.  During the Yom Kippur War the Shah deterred [[Sadam Hussein]] from playing any role by moving Iranian troops to the border, and with covert aid to the [[Kurds]] of Iraq which kept the Iraqi Army diverted.

====1979-1981====

====1979-1981====

:''Main article: [[Islamic Revolution]]''

{{Main|Islamic Revolution}}

[[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini]] emerged as an active critic of the Shah's increasingly autocratic government.  Khomeini was imprisoned and later exiled, but popular anti-government sentiment continued to spread.  

[[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini]] emerged as an active critic of the Shah's increasingly autocratic government.  Khomeini was imprisoned and later exiled, but popular anti-government sentiment continued to spread.  

By the fall of 1978, events in Iran were moving fast. The Iranian armed forces—whose officer corps had been carefully cultivated by the Shah and had sworn a personal oath of allegiance to him—witnessed the growing disorder and violence in Tehran. Knowing of the Carter administration’s discomfort at attempts to repress it, the generals nevertheless urged the Shah to crack down. The result, enacted on the 7th of September, was "martial law" without exactly being martial law. Opponents of the Shah quickly found they could challenge their sovereign’s authority and court the foreign media.

By the fall of 1978, events in Iran were moving fast. The Iranian armed forces—whose officer corps had been carefully cultivated by the Shah and had sworn a personal oath of allegiance to him—witnessed the growing disorder and violence in Tehran. Knowing of the Carter administration’s discomfort at attempts to repress it, the generals nevertheless urged the Shah to crack down. The result, enacted on the 7th of September, was "martial law" without exactly being martial law. Opponents of the Shah quickly found they could challenge their sovereign’s authority and court the foreign media.

Khomeini returned from exile in France to Teheran on 31 January 1979. On 11 February the Shah fled, and mobs armed with machine guns attacked the U.S. embassy. Iran’s armed forces did not respond. On 3 November 1979, the American embassy was stormed again, and 66 U.S. personnel were taken prisoner. Thirteen were released in a few days, but the remainder stayed captive in Iran until 30 minutes after Jimmy Carter had turned the White House over to Ronald Reagan at noon on 21 January 1981. <ref>Grinter, Dr. Lawrence E. [http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1983/jan-feb/grinter.html ''Avoiding the Burden: The Carter Doctrine in Perspective''] Vol. XXXIV, No. 2 (January-February 1983): 73-82. </ref>

Khomeini returned from exile in France to Teheran on 31 January 1979. On 11 February the Shah fled, and mobs armed with machine guns attacked the U.S. embassy. Iran’s armed forces did not respond. On 3 November 1979, the American embassy was stormed again, and 66 U.S. personnel were taken prisoner. Thirteen were released in a few days, but the remainder stayed captive in Iran until 30 minutes after Jimmy Carter had turned the White House over to Ronald Reagan at noon on 21 January 1981.<ref>Grinter, Dr. Lawrence E. [http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1983/jan-feb/grinter.html ''Avoiding the Burden: The Carter Doctrine in Perspective''] Vol. XXXIV, No. 2 (January–February 1983): 73-82.</ref>

====1984-2001====

====1984-2001====

* Martin, Vanessa. ''Islam and Modernism'' (1989).

* Martin, Vanessa. ''Islam and Modernism'' (1989).

* Moin, Baqer. ''Khomeini: Life of the Ayatollah'' (1999).

* Moin, Baqer. ''Khomeini: Life of the Ayatollah'' (1999).

* Schayegh, Cyrus. "Recent Trends in the Historiography of Iran under the Pahlavi Dynasty, 1921–1979" ''History Compass'' v.6 #6 (Nov. 2008) pp 1400-1406 DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-0542.2008.00558.x online  

* Schayegh, Cyrus. "Recent Trends in the Historiography of Iran under the Pahlavi Dynasty, 1921–1979" ''History Compass'' v.6 #6 (Nov. 2008) pp 1400–1406 DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-0542.2008.00558.x online  

===Primary sources===

===Primary sources===

* Alexander, Yonah and Nanes, Allan, eds. ''The United States and Iran: A Documentary History.'' (1980). 524 pp.

* Alexander, Yonah and Nanes, Allan, eds. ''The United States and Iran: A Documentary History.'' (1980). 524 pp.

==References==

==References==

<references/>

<references/>

[[category:Asia]]

[[Category:Asia]]

[[category:Middle East]]

[[Category:Middle East]]

[[category:Iran]]

[[Category:Iran]]