Quds Force : The Hand Of Iran

Iran, initially known as Persia before 1935, was ruled a monarchy by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi until he was overthrown in 1979 by the conservative Muslim movement in the country at the time. A theocratic system was established by the Islamic clerics, in which final government authority rested in the Supreme Leader. During this time, relations between Iran and the United States were strained when Iranian students seized the United States embassy in Tehran. Iran also has had conflict with Iraq between 1980 thru 1988, which later led to United States involvement in the Persian Gulf. Iran has also been linked to various Islamic terrorists groups in the region due terrorist activities being conducted in Lebanon and other parts of the world. Iran has also been the target of sanctions from the UN due to its nuclear weapons ambitions in the region. Since 1997, Iran’s government has been under constant change be reformists parties candidates, most notably by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who was elected in a controversial election in 2005. (CIA)

“Because his American-supplied army and his American-trained secret police kept the shah in power, his opponents hated the United States almost as much as they hated their autocratic ruler. The shah’s rule was not one of constant decency” (Carnes and Garraty). From 1977 to 1979, Iran grew more and more unstable, as the Iranian people’s hatred of the shah further intensified. 1977 saw numerous riots, along with both the wounding and even killing of large numbers of the Iranian people. The Iranian people finally rose up against the shah in 1978, by January of the next year the shah was forced to flee. “A revolutionary government headed by a religious leader, the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, assumed power. He that freedom was an enemy of Islam, as well as that Islam condoned terror. Khomeini denounced the United States as the “Great Satan” whose support of the shah, he said, had caused the Iranian people untold suffering” (Carnes and Garraty). Upon his exile, the shah was dying of cancer, after seeking refuge in numerous countries he was finally given refuge in the United States. The Iranian people wouldn’t have it, and began protesting outside the U.S. Embassy demanding the shah be returned, tried, and hanged. The Iranian Hostage Crisis was quickly approaching.

The Iran Hostage Crisis, the beginning of United States interactions with Islamic extremists and economic reform in the middle east lasted from 1979 to 1981. The birth of these extremists lies in the economic policies of the United States and the middle east. The Shah, who was the supreme leader of the nation of Iran, was an ally of the United States for several decades. Despite his support from the U.S. government, he was known as a brutal leader who used excessive force and torture of his people, mostly Iranian students who spoke out against him. After decades of death, torture, abuse and other heinous crimes against humanity, the people of Iran began supporting Ayatollah Khomeini, a fundamentalist. To force events to transpire quicker, students took action by attacking the United States embassy and capturing hostages. These protestors saw the embassy as a physical representation of support for the Shah and his oppressive and cruel regime. The Americans who were working in the embassy on that day were taken hostage. What was suspected as being a relatively short hostage situation

The Iranians from 1925-1979 lived under the oppressive regime of the Pahlavi Dynasty. During this time, the Shah, Reza Shah Pahlavi also known as Reza Khan, took the first step in consolidating power. Reza Shah was appointed prime minister by the last Shah of the Qajar Dynasty, Ahmad Shah Qajar and quickly moved to consolidate his power by removing his fellow conspirators and quashing threats

The Iranian revolution of 1978-1979 was a popular uprising in 1978-79 that resulted in the overthrow of the monarch (Shah Palvahi) on April 1, 1979. This led to the establishment of the Islamic republic. It was amazing how the ruling Shah government quickly fell. Before the fall of the Iranian government, the American President (Carter) praised the Iranian government. Many people now know that the CIA put the Shah’s family in power in 1953, overthrowing a popular elected leader.

The Iranian Hostage Crisis started on November 4 1979 and ended January 20 1981. A group of Iranian students stormed the U.S Embassy in Tehran, taking more than 60 american hostages. The United States fearful of stirring up hostilities in the Middle East didn’t come to the defense of its old ally. October 1979 President Carter agreed to allow the exiled leader to enter the U.S. for treatment of an advanced malignant lymphoma. On November 4 a group of pro-Ayatollah students smashed the gates and scaled the walls of the American embassy in Tehran.

After 15 years of exile the former leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, returned to Tehran Iran. After his return followers of his helped him over through the Pahlavi monarchy, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi who was then the Shah of Iran. This event is considered the Iranian Revolution or the Islamic Revolution. His first order, when he was back in command, was to exile all the foreigners who were in Iran at the time. This led to 1,000 US State Department workers to leave the country. Khomeini and his followers drafted a new constitution replacing the Constitution of 1905 that previously guided the nation. This constitution was voted on to become the Islamic Republic of Iran, in which he was the first leader. Iran was not happy with the United States however; on November 4th a group of Iranian students took 52 hostages. What is commonly known as the Iran hostage crisis was a militant diplomatic crisis between the United States and Iran. A

On October 26, 1919, in Tehran, Iran, a man was born who would change the course of history forever. This man fostered some of the best nationalization policies in his country, in addition to new development programs designed to better the lives of Iranians. His name: Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (Encyclopaedia Britannica). In 1979, Pahlavi was exiled from his country because of a political revolution, but it was perhaps his exile more than anything else he did in his life that was the real turning point, mostly due to the rise of Radical Islam that followed shortly after. Reza Pahlavi may not seem like an important figure in history, but his banishment changed the course of history forever.

The Iranian Revolution was the first of many popular civil insurrections that resulted in the overthrow of an autocratic monarchy which lasted from 1977 to 1979. It consisted of non-violent demonstrations by the revolutionaries until late 1978, due to the shah’s decision to violently silence demonstrators. The shah, during the time period, was Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. He was viewed by many to be a western-puppet who implemented a variety of systems and programs that suggested westernization. Iran was being transformed under his rule, and there were efforts to separate from Islamic culture and religious values. However, because of Pahlavi’s anti-traditional changes, he saw a broad coalition of forces formed against him. These revolutionaries

Anyone who has even the slightest clue about anything related to world news has the basic understanding that Iran is a major player in the world of politics. From miscellaneous missile launches to disputes with other foreign nations, they have strong armed their way onto the international stage. Iran has become the largest threat in the Middle Eastern region as a result of the efforts of their fairly infant Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Plunging in for a closer look, the strength of the IRGC impresses not only politics, but the socioeconomic culture of Iran but not in the most positive fashion.

Iranian Revolution was its climax in 1979 with the Revolutionary goal being met by its supports. Supporters of the revolution were very mixed in their goals for a new Iran. The Islamic Extremist lead by Ayatollah Khomeini wanted to install an Islamic regime inside of Iran that would follow Islamic law. Religious clerics viewed the Shah as not being a positive leader for Iran and wanted him overthrown and the country left as is. Iranians such as the middle class and students wanted to install an Islamic republic in place up the autocratic monarchical society which the shah created. All of these groups came together to follow Ayatollah Khomeini under the presence of overthrowing the shah himself. Needless to say Ayatollah Khomeini overthrow

The nexus between Islam and Iran is a complex one. Islam was brought to Iran via Arab-Islamic conquest in 650 AD and has played a shifting, anomalous role in this nation-state ever since. The ideas of nationalism, secularism, religion, and revolution are unique in this Muslim country. Iranians, unlike many of their neighbors, hold on very strongly to their pre-Islamic roots and achievements; sentiments of nationalism are apparent throughout Iranian history and in the everyday conversations of Iranians. In order to illustrate the role of Islam in Iran and the contemporary Iranian situation, I will analyze the concept of an Islamic state, the legitimacy of Islam in modern-day Iran with notes on

The major consequences for the Iranian Revolution in Iran itself were the overthrow of the Reza Shah, the reappearance of the Ayatollah Khomeini, and the establishment of an Islamic republic. Iranians had become disillusioned with the rule of Reza Shah due to his embrace of Western culture, mainly due to his relationship with the United States and his oppressive style of rule. By the mid 70’s the Iranian public’s frustration with Reza Shah’s regime began to grow with the Iranian monarchy’s enclosure of its power and the inflation due the government’s uncontrolled spending resulting from the rise of oil prices (Cleveland 356). Within a few years, the continuing economic issues resulted in the monarchy of Reza Shah being overthrown by the rising tide of the Iranian Revolution and as a result, Reza Shah went into exile which guaranteed a

This Essay will attempt to evaluate and discuss the belief that the USA and Europe needs a stable Iran to promote security in the Middle East, but not a nuclear Iran. Firstly, this essay will address Iran’s current status and role in the Middle East, and how Iran is rising to become a regional power. It will explore the current Iranian regime, and address how politics and policy are being influenced, under the Ayatollah’s leadership. It will also address how radical Islam is currently growing in the Middle East, how religion has come to the forefront of politics, and what that means for the West. Secondly, this essay will offer some thoughts on the dangers of a nuclear Iran, which could either create greater insecurity, due to Iran’s motives and objectives for wanting to acquire them, or it could offer possible benefits of balancing power with Israel, as well as potential benefits for Iran, in pursuing nuclear development for peaceful means. It will also give a brief history on Iran’s stance and support for terrorism, whether that be through economic means, or giving terrorists a safe haven, and how this could be a threat if Iran continues to pursue nuclear weapons. Thirdly, this essay will explore the U.S. and Europe’s perspective on Iran’s role in the Middle East, and why they do not want to see a

Iran has seen drastic changes since the year 1979 after the Iranian Revolution. Primarily due to the original infrastructure being overthrown by extremist Shia Muslim rebels. Iran was once a western-influenced country, but over the past 35 years, it has transitioned into a theocratic government and unfavorably viewed country as of recently. This assessment will outline a brief country background for better understanding and will be discussing current events, threats to and from Iran. It will also provide a short term and a long term assessment for the time to come.