The Iranian Revolution of 1979 established the first Islamic fundamentalist state. Long-term causes included the discovery of oil which foreign powers exploited, generating nationalist resentment. Immediate causes were widespread protests against the Shah's oppressive and western-aligned rule, led by Ayatollah Khomeini. The Shah fled in 1979 and Khomeini established an Islamic theocracy, imposing strict Islamic law and isolating Iran internationally. The revolution had significant regional impacts and tensions with Iraq and the West continue over Iran's nuclear program.

1. The Iranian
Revolution
1979

2. Iranian
Revolution
The Creation of
the First Islamic
Fundamentalist
State

3. Long term Causes:Long term Causes:
 Major _________ are discovered in Iran in the late 1800sMajor _________ are discovered in Iran in the late 1800s
 Oil rights are sold to foreigners (Britain and Russia)Oil rights are sold to foreigners (Britain and Russia)
Oil Fields

4. Long term Causes:Long term Causes:
 Iranian nationalist resentIranian nationalist resent ____________________ influenceinfluence
 __________________________________ and westernization fail to help peopleand westernization fail to help people
 ________________ begins in the 1970s________________ begins in the 1970s
Western
Modernization
Islamic Revival

5. Immediate CausesImmediate Causes
1. Leader of Iran, Shah1. Leader of Iran, Shah
Mohammed Reza PahlaviMohammed Reza Pahlavi
remained in power due toremained in power due to
______________________________US Support

6. Shah Reza Pahlavi (1941 – 1977)Shah Reza Pahlavi (1941 – 1977)
Q5
 Shah creates reform from above: Creating Industry,
redistributing land to the peasants, granting rights to women,
separated religion and government
 Institutes Western reforms & ties with the West .
 But, the majority of his people live in poverty.
 Brutal suppression of dissidents

7. The Shah & His Wife,The Shah & His Wife,
Iranian elite/upper-
and intellectual
classes: very
pro-Western.

8. •The Shah spent the oil
profits for top of the line
American military
hardware.
• Little money to
reinvest back into the
Iranian economy.
• Religious leaders
angry with the Shah for
too much
“Westernization.”
The Shah Reza PahlaviThe Shah Reza Pahlavi

9. As opposition to the Shah grows, he becomes more
repressive.
Iranians protest the Shah’s policies
Corruption
in
Government

11. Opposition voices
rallied round Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeini, a
shia cleric living in exile
in Paris.
Promising social and
economic reform, the
Ayatollah prescribed a
return to traditional
religious values, which
struck a chord with
many Iranians.
Exiled Ruhollah Khomeini speaks out forcefully
against the Shah and his American backers.

12. As the 1970s drew to a close, a series of large-scale, increasingly violent
anti-Shah protests swept Iran.
Instability, including a wave of general strikes, continued throughout the
year, crippling the country's economy.

13. Anti-Shah ProtestsAnti-Shah Protests
Film ClipFilm Clip

14. The Shah leaves Iran on 1/16/79.
1. Shah’s enemies rally around Shi’ite leaders. The
Ayatollah
Khomeini accuse the Shah of violating human rights
and
undermining Islamic values
2. The Shah flees Iran and Khomeini guides Iran’s new
government
Revolution OccursRevolution Occurs

15. Ayatollah KhomeiniAyatollah Khomeini
Leads the RevolutionLeads the Revolution
Khomeini returns to Iran
on February 11, 1979.
Q7

16. The day of Khomeini's return he went straight to honor the
martyrs at Behesht e Zahra cemetery. Nobody would move out
of the way so the helicopter could land because they were so
euphoric about his return

17. In January 1979, the Shah left Tehran for an "extended vacation".
He was never to return.
All over Iran statues of the Shah were torn down by Khomeini supporters.

18. On February 1, 1979 Ayatollah Khomeini made a dramatic return from
exile.
Political and social instability increased. Street battles raged in towns and
provinces between pro-Khomeini demonstrators and police and security

19. Triumphant Muslim Clerics & IranianTriumphant Muslim Clerics & Iranian
SoldiersSoldiers
Q8
A theocracy is created!A theocracy is created!

20. The Fate of the Shah’sThe Fate of the Shah’s
GeneralsGenerals

21. Iran RevolutionaryIran Revolutionary
PosterPoster
When the devil leaves, the angel
returns!

22. Revolution OccursRevolution Occurs
3. Revolutionaries take 53 American hostages from the US embassy
4. Government imposes a strict code of behavior according to the Shariah and Koran
5. Western books and music are banned and women’s rights laws are overturned

23. American Embassy inAmerican Embassy in
Tehran Taken OverTehran Taken Over
Q9

24. 52 Americans Held Hostage for 444 Days!52 Americans Held Hostage for 444 Days!

25. Failed Rescue AttemptFailed Rescue Attempt
FilmFilm

26. 52 American Hostages Released in Jan., 198152 American Hostages Released in Jan., 1981

27. Impact of the RevolutionImpact of the Revolution
 Iran encourages Islamic fundamentalists in otherIran encourages Islamic fundamentalists in other countriescountries to overthrow theirto overthrow their
secular governmentssecular governments
 Iran is isolated by theIran is isolated by the world communityworld community
 Tensions between Sunni Iraq and Shi’ite Iran grewTensions between Sunni Iraq and Shi’ite Iran grew
 Living conditionsLiving conditions do not improvedo not improve
 IraqIraq declares war with Iran that lasts from 1980-1988declares war with Iran that lasts from 1980-1988
 Lebanese IslamicLebanese Islamic FundamentalistsFundamentalists begin a civil war.begin a civil war.

28. Support for the Palestinian CauseSupport for the Palestinian CauseSupport for the Palestinian CauseSupport for the Palestinian Cause
The Ayatollah
with
Yasir Arafat.
Funds Hamas and
Hezbollah.

30. The Iran-IraqThe Iran-Iraq
WarWar
(1980-1988)(1980-1988)
Q10

31. Secretary RumsfeldSecretary Rumsfeld
& Saddam Hussein:& Saddam Hussein:
19831983

33. Khomeini’s DeathKhomeini’s Death
(June, 1989)(June, 1989)

34. Another NuclearAnother Nuclear
Power?Power?US satellite photo of
Iranian nuclear
facility near Arak.
• 2004: Iran announces its plan
to create a nuclear power
program to generate electricity
• Many countries feel this would
lead to the creation of nuclear
weapons by Iran
• World pressure is placed on
Iran

35. Mahmoud AhmadinejadMahmoud Ahmadinejad
•Ahmadinejad is the current President of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
the first president in twenty-four years who was not a religious cleric.
•He is not the most powerful official in Iran; that role belongs to the
Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Article
113 of Constitution of Iran.
•Ahmadinejad has been a critic of the US and Israel, and backs
strengthening Iran's relations with Russia, Venezuela, Syria, and the
Persian Gulf states.
Ayatollah Ali KhameneiAyatollah Ali Khamenei

36. Film ClipFilm Clip
Westernization?Westernization?

37. President Hassan RouhaniPresident Hassan Rouhani
Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei
Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei
“Problems of 35 years cannot be
resolved in a short period of
time.”
“Problems of 35 years cannot be
resolved in a short period of
time.”

38. An American view ofAn American view of
Iranian nuclearIranian nuclear
powerpower
PINOCCHIAYATOLLAH
Scott Stantis (Birmingham News) 1/28/05

39. A view of Iran’s nuclearA view of Iran’s nuclear
power frompower from Al-Al-
JazeerahJazeerah
Nobody else (particularly Iran and Arab
countries) should have nuclear weapons except
Israel, says Bush.
-- Hassan Bleybel 10/23/03