IRAN

The Islamic Republic of Iran lies in the south-west of Asia. 

Till 1935 it was known as Persia. During the 19^th century Russia and Britain fought for influence in Persia. In 1909 Britain created the Anglo-Persian Oil Company and increased its importance. It was later renamed British Petroleum (BP)

 

1921 Reza Khan who was a Persian Officer took the power from Qatar ruler and became the new ruler as Reza Shah Pahlavi. During the Second World War Iran was occupied by British and Russian forces. 

1941 the Shah had to abdicate but gave the power to this son Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. He established better relationship with the West. The Shah’s great political opponent was Muhammad Mossadeq. He demanded no foreign interference in Iran.

In 1951 he forced parliament to nationalise Iran’s oil industry. The Shah expelled him from office in 1953 and agreed for foreign oil companies to operate and demanded a share of the profits.

1960 the Shah began an economic reform and social modernisation. It was totally opposed by religious leaders like Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

1978 riots against the Shah made him apply marshal law. A year later Khomaini led a rebellion and the Shah was overthrown.

Khomaini created an Islamic republic totally hostile to the West and to Iraq. He also provoked the Iran Hostage Crisis where they seized the American Embassy in Teheran and started the Iran-Iraq war.  Khomeini died in 1989 and moderate Hashemi Rafsanjani took over the leadership. During the Gulf War in 1991 Iran remained neutral. In the same year the Soviet Union broke up. Iran started to influence the newly independent central Asia states.

In 1995 the United States enforced sanction on Iran when it emerged Iran sponsoring international terrorism and started a nuclear weapon programme.

Hashemi Rafsanjani was superseded by Mohammad Khatami, a reformist, and tension grew into protests.

2001 Mohammad Khatami was re-elected but opposed by conservative in Parliament which banned liberal newspaper and disqualified candidates for parliament election.

2003 students’ anti-government protests in Tehran.

2006 several Human Rights protests took place.

2005 Iran presidential election and Manmoud Ahmadinejad became president.

2005-2006 rumours of USA and Israel planning to attack Iran for the reason of Iranian civilian nuclear energy programme which was feared leading to nuclear weapons.

2009 Ahmadinejad re-elected and cause a huge protest.

2013 Hassan Rouhan – with the presidential election in Iran he gave a promise to re-establish Iran’s relationship with the West.  After 8 days talk in Geneva a statement was made to an agreement between Iran, USA, France and Germany.

 

2020 Iran suffered 2 assassination of top officials and withdrawal of the nuclear contract by Donald Trump, USA President. The new President Joe Bidder to be sworn in on 20 January promised to re-establish contact and friendship with Iran again.

Israel fears Iran and constantly aggravates the situation and tries for confrontation with Iran hoping to destroy them. USA and UK are not stopping Israel because they are practically controlled by Israel. Israel and UK signed a military pact in November. 2020.