US Iranian Relations
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS SHOULD CONTINUE TO FORCE IRAN INTO ABANDONING OR REDUCING ITS NUCLEAR ARMS PROGRAM THESIS STATEMENT
HISTORY OF IRAN Called Persia Weak nation Occupied by Russia, Britain, and the Ottoman Empire during World War I Coup in 1921 Reza Khan became Shah (King) in 1925 Ruled until 1941 as Reza Shah Pahlavi
HISTORY OF IRAN Renamed Iran in 1935 Positive changes for Iran Seen as dictatorial
HISTORY OF IRAN Domestic Policy Positive changes large-scale industries major infrastructure projects Railroads Bridges national public education system Changed judiciary improving health care
HISTORY OF IRAN Domestic Policy Results strong, centralized government Many professionals (including son) trained in Europe Becomes industrial, urbanized country Public education progressed new social classes professional middle class industrial working class
HISTORY OF IRAN Foreign Policy Tried to avoid involvement with Britain and the Soviet Union Many development projects required foreign technical expertise Avoided awarding contracts to British and Soviet companies Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (British) controlled all of Iran's oil resources Technical assistance from Germany, France, Italy and other European countries
HISTORY OF IRAN Foreign Policy WW II Reza Shah proclaimed neutrality Britain insisted all German citizens expelled Reza Shah refused the Shah had concluded a secret agreement with Nazi Germany
HISTORY OF IRAN Foreign Policy Both Britain and the Soviet Union wanted the newly opened Trans-Iranian Railroad to transport from Persian Gulf to the Soviet region August 1941, Britain and the USSR invaded Iran They arrested and exiled Reza Shah took control of Iranian communications and railroad 1942, the United States sent military force to help maintain and operate sections of the railroad
HOW COULD THESE EVENTS CAUSE FRICTION BETWEEN IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES?
HISTORY OF IRAN British and Soviets kept constitutional government Reza Shah's son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, became Shah September 16, 1941
HISTORY OF IRAN Post WWII Political parties organized 1944 election was genuinely competitive The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) continued to extract and market Iranian oil After the war, Iranians demanded nationalization of oil
HISTORY OF IRAN Post WWII Mohammad Reza Shah ruling style promised to stay out of parliamentary affairs opposed or thwarted strong prime ministers relied more on manipulation than on leadership concentrated on reviving the army ensuring it would remain under royal control In 1949 the communist party was banned after an assassination attempt the Shah expanded his powers
HISTORY OF IRAN Post WWII 1951, Iranian Parliament nationalized the oil industry Dr. Mohammad Mosaddeq (supporter) is elected prime minister Britain responded with threats and sanctions the USA, under Truman, didn t support them
HISTORY OF IRAN Post WWII Mosaddeq immensely popular a nationalist not a communist, but supported by them British and US governments believed Mosaddeq was about to align Iran with the USSR
HISTORY OF IRAN Post WWII Mosaddeq wouldn t compromise with Britain Oil companies led boycott on Iranian oil Mosaddeq became an anti-imperialist hero showed signs of dictatorial government Shah refused demand for control of the army in 1952 Mosaddeq resigned reinstated in the face of riots
HISTORY OF IRAN Post WWII By 1953, Eisenhower had become president Iranian general offered to help in the overthrow of Mosaddeq British persuaded CIA to go ahead with the coup in August The army was loyal to the Shah and Mosaddeq was overthrown and arrested This coup earned the USA and Britain the lasting hatred of large sectors of Iranians
HISTORY OF IRAN Post WWII http://www.youtube.co m/watch?v=30crspxzz -A Results communists, nationalists and Shia clerics become anti-foreigner Mosaddeq becomes folk hero of Iranian nationalism Shah became ally of the West
HOW COULD THESE EVENTS CAUSE FRICTION BETWEEN IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES?
HISTORY OF IRAN Post Coup 1963 White Revolution land reform extension of voting rights to women elimination of illiteracy Opponents religious leaders who feared losing their traditional authority intellectuals seeking democratic reforms Criticized Shah for violation of the constitution subservience to the United States
HISTORY OF IRAN Post Coup 1967: an elaborate coronation ceremony, naming himself "Shah en Shah" - King of Kings 1971: an extravagant celebration of 2,500 years of Persian monarchy 1976: replaced the Islamic calendar with an "imperial" calendar, which began with the foundation of the Persian empire around 500 BC.
IRANIAN HOSTAGE CRISIS The Shah used Iran's security and intelligence organization, the Savak, for arbitrary arrest, imprisonment, exile and torture Ayatollah Khomeini Exiled in 1964 living in Iraq (1965 to1978 ) and France since 1978 Wanted absolutist theocratic rule Around 1978, began publicizing more democratic views and democratic rule in Iran (publicly) Very ill, the Shah left Iran early 1979 Prime Minister Shapour Bakhtiar allowed the Ayatollah to return
IRANIAN HOSTAGE CRISIS Ayatollah s return Bakhitar exiled Imprisonment of Shah supporters Execution of top generals and government officials March 1979 Vote on government Islamic Republic (98%)
IRANIAN HOSTAGE CRISIS November, 1979 Shah goes to U.S. for medical treatment (cancer) November 1 anti-u.s. rallies November 4 Iranian students storm U.S. embassy take 66 Americans hostage
IRANIAN HOSTAGE CRISIS 14 hostages released Iran will release the hostages for the Shah President Jimmy Carter freezes Iranian assets in US banks Ayatollah and Muslim theocracy becoming more militant
IRANIAN HOSTAGE CRISIS In April 1980 Carter orders a secret rescue attempt; it fails Hostages are spread throughout Iran to avoid a further attempt Shah dies in June 1980 in Egypt
IRANIAN HOSTAGE CRISIS January 1981, an agreement is reached release the hostages pledge of no U.S. military involvement $8 billion of Shah s assets January 20, 1981 (one hour into Ronald Reagan s presidency) hostages are released. 444 days in captivity
HOW COULD THESE EVENTS CAUSE FRICTION BETWEEN IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES?
IRAN-IRAQ WAR Iraq invades in 1980 for Iranian territory and oil U.S. publicly supporting Iraq U.S. providing Iraq with weapons
IRAN-IRAQ WAR U.S. privately supporting Iran with weapons Iran-Contra affair War ends in 1988 Both countries weakened by the war
1990s Ayatollah Khomeini dies in 1989 Mohammed Khatami elected Prime Minister in 1997 Move to reform conservative elements in government Still support terrorist groups Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad
HOW COULD THESE EVENTS CAUSE FRICTION BETWEEN IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES?
NUCLEAR PROGRAM Shah had begun nuclear reactor (with U.S. help) Ayatollah stopped project; UnIslamic Bombed during Iran- Iraq War Restarted in 2003
NUCLEAR PROGRAM International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitors world nuclear capabilities Iran had permission to restart reactor (with Russian help) IAEA found Iran had additional reactors (not allowed)
NUCLEAR PROGRAM IAEA insisted on full account of nuclear program Khatami agreed 2005: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad elected Ahmadinejad more hard line Refuses to comply with IAEA
NUCLEAR PROGRAM Anti-American Anti-Israel Holocaust didn t happen Re-elected in 2009 Disputed election Widespread protests in Iran Protesters shut down by regime
IRAN S PERSPECTIVE?
HOW COULD THESE EVENTS CAUSE FRICTION BETWEEN IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES?