Iranian revolution/ Iran-Iraq war

1953 Iranian Coup d'etat

U.S.- and British-instigated, Iranian army-led overthrow of the democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in favor of strengthening the autocratic rule of the shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, on 19 August 1953, with the objectives being to protect British oil interests in Iran after its government refused to concede to western oil demands

Causes of revolution

Failures of Reza Shah, Deterioration of the Economy, Effective leadership of Khomeini.

SAVAK

Shah’s secret police used to suppress dissent and reinforce his authoritarian rule- estimated to have executed up to 100 political prisoners from 1971-1979

Political parties and opposition were silenced, creating widespread resentment.

1963 White Revolution

a far-reaching series of reforms resulting in aggressive modernisation in the Imperial State of Iran launched on 26 January 1963 by the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, which lasted until 1979.

The Shah’s modernization reforms (land redistribution, education, women’s rights, industrial growth) were seen by many as superficial and imposed from above. They disrupted traditional social structures, alienating the clergy, landowners, and rural population. Rapid Westernization clashed with Islamic values and Iranian traditions.

"American lifestyles had come to be imposed as the ideal, the ultimate goal"

Axworthy quoting a protester

Economic discontent

Despite oil wealth, wealth distribution was highly unequal.

Urbanization, unemployment, and inflation created frustration among the middle and working classes.

Many felt the Shah’s policies primarily benefited elites and foreign companies.

"an odd fusion of Islam and late twentieth century revolutionary politics"

Christian Caryl

Ayotollah Khomeini

Shi'ite philosopher and cleric who led the overthrow of the shah of Iran in 1979 and created an Islamic republic.

• opposed the Shah’s secularization and Western orientation.

• Khomeini became a symbol of resistance while in exile, spreading revolutionary ideas through tapes and writings.

"threat of unemployment fused with the general disillusionment with the regime"

Micheal Axworthy (causes)

Black Friday

The first major protest of the revolution, occurring on 8 September 1978 in Iran, in which 64, or at least 100 people were shot dead and 205 injured by the Pahlavi military in Jaleh Square in Tehran.

Demonstrations in 1978

Shah tried to control with military force, 100s of demonstrators killed, opposition leaders called for return of exiled religious Shia leader Ayatollah Khomeini- he called for a general strike in Iran- leading to increase in oil prices.

In November the Shah declared martial law as country descended into chaos, by January urged by the US he fled the country for his safety- Khomeini returned to Iran

The white revolution ‘aroused opposition from all sides'

Mansfield, Pelham, 1991

Economic hardship

resulted from the White Revolution. World monetary instability and fluctuations in Western Oil consumption threatened the Economy. Heavy government spending, and a boom in oil prices led to high rates of inflation. 30% Increase.

New republic

Constitution created a parliament (the Majlis) guided by supreme leader Khomeini- Islamic regime- granted significant power to the religious leader, enforced conservative social views, suppressed Western cultural influence, dissolved Family Protection Act which had provided rights to women, established revolutionary committees to enforce Islamic codes

Social change

Compulsory dress code for women, reverse women’s rights in marriage, child custody and divorce. This included lowering the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 9, Granted significant powers to religious authorities undermining secular institutions.

Khomeini "was able to hold supreme power above that of the president, prime minister and elected parliment"

Mansfield Pelham 1991

US Embassy hostage crisis

 When the Shah was overthrown, he had cancer & the US (Jimmy Carter) allowed him to be treated in US hospitals. This angered Iran and a group of Islamist students and militants took over the American Embassy in Tehran in support of the Iranian Revolution and held 66 Americans hostage for 444 days.

Collapse of diplomatic relations with the US

Hezbollah creation

In 1982, Hezbollah was conceived by Muslim clerics and funded by Iran primarily to fight the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. The 1982 and the 1978 Israeli invasions had created a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon; many villages in the south had been destroyed and large numbers of Shias had been displaced from their homes.

"Irans creation of Hezbollah in Lebanon altered Lebanese politics forever"

Mansfield Pelham - Hezbollah

Iran-Iraq war causes

Territorial issues- river Shatt al-Arab where region’s two major rivers join and flow into the Persian gulf, border between Iran and Iraq- dispute over the exact location of the border,The 1975 Algiers Agreement had temporarily settled the border, but Saddam sought to overturn it when Iran was weakened after its revolution.

2nd territorial issue concerning Iraq’s Kurdish population in north of Iraq- In the 1970s Iran began supporting the Iraqi Kurds in their efforts to separate from Iraq

Ideological issues- The Islamic Revolution alarmed Saddam and other Arab leaders. Ayatollah Khomeini called for exporting Islamic revolution across the region, threatening secular regimes like Iraq’s Ba’athist government. Iraq’s population was majority Shi’a, but ruled by Saddam’s Sunni-dominated regime. Saddam feared Iran’s revolution would inspire Shi’a rebellion within Iraq.

Beginning of war

Iran unsettled politically, economic weakness as a result of revolution, sanctions and international isolation- west refused to purchase itsoil

Iraq took advantage + launched attack on Iran, Saddam Hussein hoped to become leader of the Arab world

22 Sep 1980- Iraq launched a surprise air attack on Iran- limited success, Iran soon recovered and war continued for the next 8 yrs with Iran invading Iraq in 1982

War support

Syria supported Iran

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait + other Gulf states → economic assistance to Iraq against Shia Iranian regime

US supported Iraq with intelligence info and small weapons even though it was a Soviet client, Soviets provided tanks and aircraft

August 1988

The war ended when both sides accepted UN brokered ceasefire- security council res 598

500,000- 1 million estimated

Massive human losses- millions wounded, displaced or made refugees

Brutal war with large scale ground, air and naval battles including use of chemical weapons by Iraq

“massive slaughter for very small gain”

Gallagher 2015 (Iran Iraq consequences)

Economic devastation from war

Economies crippled, oil exports disrupted, Iraq accumulated debts to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait which lead to the Gulf War, Iran infrastructure and oil industry suffered major destruction

No clear victory- neither side achieved their territorial or political objectives, UN brokered ceasefire in 1988 restored pre-war borders