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

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

After the CIA-backed coup of 1953, Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh was overthrown and the Shah returned to power. Ayatollah Khomeini emerged as an active critic of the Shah's increasingly autocratic government during this period. 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.

After the CIA-backed coup of 1953, Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh was overthrown and the Shah returned to power. [[Ayatollah Khomeini]] emerged as an active critic of the Shah's increasingly autocratic government during this period. 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.

On November 4, 1979, a group of Iranian students entered the US embassy and took a number of American personnel hostage, citing the overthrowing of Mossadegh in 1953 and accusing the embassy staff of preparing another coup against the revolutionary government. Some of the hostages, including women, African Americans and an employee diagnosed with mutliple sclerosis, were quickly released. Others were held for 444 days before being allowed to leave Iran and return to the United States.

On November 4, 1979, a group of Iranian students entered the US embassy and took a number of American personnel hostage, citing the overthrowing of Mossadegh in 1953 and accusing the embassy staff of preparing another coup against the revolutionary government. Some of the hostages, including women, African Americans and an employee diagnosed with mutliple sclerosis, were quickly released. Others were held for 444 days before being allowed to leave Iran and return to the United States.

In the 1980s America was rocked by the Iran-Contra Affair aka Irangate, the largest [[American political scandals|political scandal]] in the [[United States]] during the [[1980s]], considered by some to be one of the largest political scandals in history.<ref>{{cite web

In the 1980s America was rocked by the Iran-Contra Affair aka Irangate, the largest political scandal in the [[United States]] during the [[1980s]], considered by some to be one of the largest political scandals in history.<ref>{{cite web

   | last = Hart

   | last = Hart

   | first = Robert

   | first = Robert