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Pricing
Iran History
Brief overview with more specific events leading up to the Revolution
Brief overview with more specific events leading up to the Revolution
Main
"Tobacco Riots"
1890
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Mass protests force Naser al-Din Shah to withdraw trade concessions granted to Britain.
Constitution
1907
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Constitution introduced which limits absolutist powers of rulers.
Neutrality
1914 - 1918
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Declares neutrality during WW I
Reza Khan
February 1921
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Military commander Reza Khan seizes power
Reza Khan becomes Prime Minister
1923
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Parliament votes to make Reza Khan ruler
December 1925
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Reza Khan crowned Reza Shah Pahlavi
April 1926
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Mohammad Reza, the Shah's eldest son, is proclaimed Crown Prince
Iran is adopted as the country's official name
1935
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Formerly known as Persia
Shah's allegiance in WWII
1941
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The Shah's pro-Axis allegiance in WWII leads to the Anglo-Russian occupation of Iran and the deposition of the Shah in favor of his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Mossadeq
1950
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Ali Razmara becomes prime minister and is assassinated less then nine month later. He is succeeded by the nationalist, Mohammad Mossadeq.
OIL issues
April 1951
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Parliament votes to nationalize the oil industry (dominated by the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company). Britain imposes an embargo and a blockade cause they want control Iran's resources...OIL! This halts oil exports and the economy takes a huge hit. A power struggle between the Shah and Mossadeq ensues.
CIA coup
August 1953
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Mossadeq is overthrown in a coup engineered by the British and American intelligence services. General Fazlollah Zahedi is proclaimed prime minister and the Shah returns.
"White Revolution"
January 1963
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Shah begins campaign to modernize and westernize the country. The "White Revolution" included programs of land reform and social and economic modernization.
Shah Reza Pahlavi forces Ayatollah Khomeini to leave the country
November 1964 - February 1979
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SAVAK
1965 - 1970
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Shah has to depend on the secret police SAVAK in controlling opposition movement critical of his reforms...and anytime brute force is required to govern your country you know it cannot be a good thing.
Martial Law is imposed
September 1978
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The Shah's policies alienate the clergy and his authoritarian rule leads to riots, strikes and mass demonstrations. He imposes Martial Law.
SAVAK attacks University of Tehran
November 1978
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Student gathering is attacked by the Shah's security forces killing many, including students as young as thirteen.
Shah Exiled
January 1979
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As the political situation deteriorates, the Shah and his family are forced into exile.
Khomeini Returns to Iran
February 1979
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Khomeini returns after fourteen years of exile in Iraq and France for opposing the regime
The Islamic Republic of Iran
April 1979
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The Islamic Republic of Iran is proclaimed following a referendum.
Tensions rise between Iran & the U.S.
October 1979
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Cancer-ridden ex-Shah allowed to enter US for medical treatment. Khomeini speaks out angrily at this "evidence of American plotting." Revolutionary denunciation of the Great Satan (America) intensifies.
Students takeover US embassy in Tehran
November 1979 - January 1981
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Islamic militants take 52 Americans hostage inside the U.S. embassy in Tehran. They demand the extradition of the Shah to face trial in Iran.
Abolhasan Bani-Sadr elected first president of the Islamic Republic
January 1980
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His government begins work on a major nationalization programme
U.S. breaks diplomatic relations with Iran
April 1980
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Mohammad Reza Shah dies of cancer in Egypt
July 1980
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American hostages are released (444 days in captivity)
January 1981
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