Iran

This is intended as a primer for anyone who like me is interested in what has been happening in Iran over the last few days. First, some historical context kept intentionally vague and brief.

1921-1925- Reza Pahlavi, a Brigadier General in the Persian (Iranian) Army takes control of the nation during this period beginning with a coup d'etat, overthrowing the existing government and eventually establishing his own dynasty which would rule the nation. He was not without opposition from other Iranians in doing this.

1925-1941- Reza Pahlavi, also known as Reza Shah, rules Iran as an autocrat with anti-communist and secularism policies. He began modernizing the country and tried to curb the influence of Islam in Iran through secular laws and policies.

1941- The British and Russians force Reza Pahlavi to abdicate the throne in lieu of his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The British and Russians feared that Reza Pahlavi intended to ally himself with Nazi Germany during the Second World War. The invasion also allowed the Allies to use Iran's resources for their war effort.

1953- The British and U.S. governments overturn the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran who had held office since 1951. The Prime Minister had nationalized the oil industry which had been jointly run by an Iranian-British effort. In addition to this loss, the British and U.S.A. feared that the Prime Minister may have had communist sympathies which would have undermined the Shah's pro-Western stance. Iran shared an important border with the Soviet Union. Its oil wealth and location made it an important Cold War ally.

1950-1970s- The Shah of Iran continues his rule becoming increasingly autocratic and unpopular with his subjects.

1979- The Iranian Revolution occurs. The Shah is forced into exile. There were many revolutionary groups who took part including nationalists, Marxists and Islamic groups. In the chaos post-revolution, the Islamic revolutionaries take power and form a theocratic Islamic Republic led by the Ayatollah (high-ranking Shi'a cleric) Ruhollah Khomeini.

Soon after, relations with the West worsen, culminating with the Iran Hostage crisis which involved the storming of the American Embassy which overlapped the Carter and Reagan presidencies.

1981-1988- Saddan Hussein, leader of neighboring Iraq, invades Iran in hopes of acquiring disputed territories held by Iran which had large Arab populations, substantial oil reserves and would provide Iraq with greater access to the Persian Gulf. Somewhere between 500,000 and 1,000,000 Iranians are killed before a U.N. cease-fire is agreed to.

1989- Khomeini dies. He is succeeded as Supreme Leader by Ali Khamenei.

1989-1997- Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani serves as President of Iran. He is a pragmatist and has pro-business policies and sought to rebuild and strengthen the economy while keeping the nation fundamentally aligned with the principles of the revolution.

1997-2005- Mohammad Khatami is President of Iran. He is a moderate and reformer who pushes for greater freedoms in Iranian society and sought to increase Iran's standing with the European Union and Asian nations. Many acknowledge that he was largely unsuccessful in moderating Iran's image because of the lack of support from Khamenei.

2002- President George W. Bush includes Iran with Iraq and North Korea in the "Axis of Evil" because they aided terrorism and sought weapons of mass destruction.

2005-2009- Conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad holds the position of Presidency. He is a controversial leader who does little to continue in the ways of his predecessors, Rafsanjani and Khatami.

The past week- An tightly contested election was held between Ahmadinejad and Hossein Mousavi, seen as many as a moderate who would return the country to the ways of Rafsanjani and Khatami.

Several sources have stated that the election results are fraudulent and that Mousavi won the election but has been removed from power by Khamenei and Ahmadienjad. There has been unrest in Iran since the "results" of the election were announced. Communications have been censored, media has been intimidated, protesters and university students have been assaulted by police and other armed groups. It has been alleged, though I have not seen it officially confirmed that members of Hezbollah have been brought to Iran to assist in the quelling of protests.

The outcome of this situation remains unforeseeable. Some see this as similar to the revolutions that happened throughout Europe in the late 80s as the Cold War was ending. Others are less hopeful and see a more apt comparison to Tiananmen Square.