Iran

By Criggs05

  • 1951 Election

    Prime Minister Mossadeq was elected. This was the culmination of reform that took the government away from centralized rule to a democracy. By 1952, he was more powerful than the Shah.
    Reforms include: unemployment benefits, worker benefits, end of forced labor, and nationalization of the Anglo-Iranian Oil company.

  • 1953 Coup

    The UK wanted to get rid of Mossandeq. With help from the US, both the CIA and MIQ organized and funded a military coup. (This was during the Cold War and the US and its allies were doing everything in their power to stop the spread of communism. In their eyes, Iran was a risk of becoming communist so they wanted to establish a new government that would not be susceptible to communism - destroying the country in the process)
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    Shah Reza Pahlavi

    Shah Reza Pahlavi had been Shah since 1941. The coup that led to the Prime Minister being overthrown increased the political power of the Shah. Instead of being little more than a figure head, he now had complete control of the gov’t. During his rule he: turned the gov’t into a dictatorship, ignored the constitution, suppressed opposition rights, ignored economic suffering, secularized the government, and advocated for westernization. His rule fueled growing discontent among many Iranians.

  • Women’s Suffrage

    Women are given the right to vote and hold office.
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    Iranian/Islamic Revolution

    In 1978, opposition to the Shah’s rule formed. This sparked a large rebellion. Writers criticized the government, students protested, and strikes brought the economy to a halt. By February of 1979, the Shah had fled to the US and the rest of his regime was overthrown. Ayatollah Khomeini assumed power. This led to the creation of the theocracy Iran is today.
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    Women’s Rights Are Limited

    Following the Islamic Revolution Women’s rights have steadily decreased as more and more laws restrict their freedom. This has continued on into 2024.

  • Ayatollah Khomeini Dies

    Ayatollah Khomeini dies and is replaced by Ayatollah Khamenei. He is still in power now.
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    Nuclear Program (Under President Ahmadinejad And Rouhani)

    2005: Ahmadinejad was elected president (presidents + supreme leaders coexist). During his term he convinced the world Iran was producing nuclear weapons. Western countries heavily sanction Iran due to the suspected nuclear program. This led to significant economic decline. 2013: Rouhani was elected. 2015: he negotiated a deal with the west (JCPOA) to limit nuclear activity. But, in 2018, Trump removed the US from the JCPOA and implemented sanctions on Iran again.