Video: Modern Iran

Iran

Persia - Very ancient roots of Iranian civilization

• Achaemenid Empire
• City of Persepolis, levelled by Alexander the Great when fighting King Darius III
• Seleucid Empire, Parthian Empire, Sassanid Empire
• 633 Arab Conquest
• Islam introduced
• Split in Islamic Faith → �Sunni and Shia sects.
• Iran is Shia
• Islamic Fundamentalism
• Strict interpretation of the rules of Islam.

Iran

1500 - 1979 Series of ruling dynasties

• Pahlavi Dynasty: 1925-1979
• 1921-1941 Shah Reza Khan = Modernization �of Iran(similar to Ataturk in Turkey)
• Oil rich country
• 1951 Mossadeq (prime minister) and Oil Nationalization
• CIA helps topple the prime minister to bring�Shah back from exile
• 1941-1979 Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

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Iran

1979 Iranian (Islamic) Revolution

• Major economic problems in 1970s
• Threat of western culture �and foreign influence
• Protests start in 1977 with�middle class, move to �include working class
• Increasing violence and �resistance from both sides
• Shah seen as corrupt. Overthrown for ties to West �and failing people of Iran
• Ayatollah Khomeini becomes supreme religious leader

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Iran

Iranian Revolution (1979)

• This event brought Ayatollah Khomeini �(the chief Islamic religious leader) to power.
• Iran is a theocracy �(government run by religious leaders)�- Iran has a president and parliament, �but they must answer to religious leaders.

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Iran

Iran Today (2019)

Ayatollah Khamenei = supreme leader

? = president

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ISSUES:

Trade Sanctions

2015 - Nuclear Deal

2018 - US leaves

2024 - ???