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Modern Iran |
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Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi
1941-1979 |
1941 |
- Soviet and British troops invade Iran in August 1941, to secure overland routes through Iran to USSR, during WW2
- Reza Shah Pahlavi abdicates on September 16 in favour of his eldest
son Mohammed Reza Shah
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1951 |
- Mossadegh (leader of the National Front) becomes prime minister
- Nationalisation of Oil (NIOC)
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1953 |
- Fall of Mossadegh's government and the return to power of the Shah
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1962-1973 |
- In 1962, the Shah launches a series of reforms, known as the "White
Revolution" aimed in particular at the rural population who form the
majority of the country
- Although the program is popular among the workers and peasants there
is opposition from the clergy led by Ayatollah Khomeini. He is arrested
in June 1963 and exiled to Turkey the following year.
- Celebrations at Persepolis to commemorate the 2500th
anniversary of the Persian Empire - Oct 1971
|
1973-78 |
- World oil prices quadruple and Iran's oil revenues increase
significantly which allows the Shah to carry out a vast program of
Industrial expansion. It is criticized for concentrating on extravagant
and costly projects badly adapted to the needs of the country.
- This boom in oil revenue is also attended by rapid inflation,
massive migration into urban centres, housing shortages and growing
resentment among the poorer and lower middle classes at the widening gap
in incomes.
- In 1975 the Shah abolishes political parties and creates a one party state.
The mistreatment of political prisoners by the state security organisation, SAVAK,
is the subject of widespread criticism.
- A slump in oil sales between 1975 and '77 forces the government to
reduce social spending even further to finance building projects and the
purchase of armaments
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1978 |
- In January and February 1978 demonstrations and riots led by the
clerics or seminary students occur in Qum and Tabriz and rapidly spread
to cities and towns all over the country.
- In September hundreds of thousands march in Tehran
- The leadership of the protest movement is passed to Ayatollah
Khomenini, who from exile calls for the abolition of the monarchy and
the establishment of an Islamic republic.
- In a last attempt to keep control, the Shah appoints Shahpur
Bakhtiar, a National Front politician, premier at the end of
1978
|
1979 |
- On January 16th the Shah is forced to flee the country
with his family, and eventually dies in Egypt in 1980.
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Ayatollah Khomeini
1979 - 1989 |
1979 |
- On February 1, Khomeini denounces Bakhtiar and returns to Tehran.
- A referendum is held on March 31 - April 1, and an Islamic Republic
declared. This requires all institutions, laws, and economic and social
policies to be based on Islam
- On 4th November US diplomats are taken hostage at the American Embassy in
Tehran. They are released in January 1981.
|
1980-89 |
- From July 1980 the skirmishes at the Iranian Iraqi frontier
intensify and in September Iraqi forces enter Khuzestan. Though Iranian
forces succeed in retaking virtually all lost territory in early 1982,
Khomeini refuses to end the war, vowing to overthrow Saddam Hussein and his
secular government.
- Fighting continues until July 1988 killing hundreds of thousands on both sides.
A cease-fire is finally negotiated (United Nations Resolution 598)
with neither side having achieved its objective.
- Ayatollah Khomeini dies on June 3 1989
- Ayatollah Khomeini is succeeded by Seyyed Ali Khamenei who becomes the head of state
and Guide of the Revolution on 4 June 1989 and Ayatollah Hashemi
Rafsanjani who becomes president of the Republic in July 1989.
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