Changes

Iran was formerly known as [[Persia]], and was the historical center of a number of empires.

Iran was formerly known as [[Persia]], and was the historical center of a number of empires.

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>

In 1949 the Angelo-Persian Oil Company negotiated an agreement with the Iranian government under which it would pay the government 25 to 30 per cent of its net profits,  The British government controlled 52 per cent of the stock of the company.  Under pressure from the the Shia clergy and members of the Communist [[Tudeh party]], the Iranian government led by Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh did not ratify the agreement and on May 2, 1951, nationalized ownership of the oil industry.  In October Britain shut down Abadan, the world's largest refinery, on the Persian Gulf, and boycotted Iranian oil for the next two years.  30 per cent of Iran's national income previously came from oil exports.  Iranian production fell from 424,000 barrels a day in 1947 to 59,000 in 1954, while Saudi Arabia rose from 246,000 barrels to 953,000, and Kuwaut from 45,000 barrels to 953,000.

In 1949 the Angelo-Persian Oil Company negotiated an agreement with the Iranian government under which it would pay the government 25 to 30 per cent of its net profits,  The British government controlled 52 per cent of the stock of the company.  Under pressure from the the Shia clergy and members of the Communist [[Tudeh party]], the Iranian government led by Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh did not ratify the agreement and on May 2, 1951, nationalized ownership of the oil industry.  In October Britain shut down Abadan, the world's largest refinery, on the Persian Gulf, and boycotted Iranian oil for the next two years.  30 per cent of Iran's national income previously came from oil exports.  Iranian production fell from 424,000 barrels a day in 1947 to 59,000 in 1954, while Saudi Arabia rose from 246,000 barrels to 953,000, and Kuwaut from 45,000 barrels to 953,000.

When Mossadegh received word, he began mass arrests. Two days of chaos ensued. Rioters smashed statues of the Shah and his fahter 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 recoverd as oil exports regained a market share which had been decimated during the previous two years.  The Shah expressed his understaing of the importance of Iran's position in the region, and the world, as a bulwark against Soviet expansionism.

When Mossadegh received word, he began mass arrests. Two days of chaos ensued. Rioters smashed statues of the Shah and his fahter 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 recoverd as oil exports regained a market share which had been decimated during the previous two years.  The Shah expressed his understaing of the importance of Iran's position in the region, and the world, as a bulwark against Soviet expansionism.

[[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. In 1979, the Shah fled Iran as Khomeini returned from exile. The Shah's troops were defeated by the rebels and in the following year, the Islamic Republic was established following a national referendum.

[[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. In 1979, the Shah fled Iran as Khomeini returned from exile. The Shah's troops were defeated by the rebels and in the following year, the Islamic Republic was established following a national referendum.