Religious and Secular Values Compete in Iran
There was conflict between traditional Islamic values and modern Western materialism due to the wealth of the oil industry. The shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi liked the Western governments and oil companies. However, the Iranian nationalists were dissatisfied and came together under Prime Minister Muhammed Mossadeq, which forced the shah to leave in 1953.
The U.S. helped the shah regain power and westernize Iran into a secular rule because it feared that they would look to the Soviet Union for aid. The shah tried to weaken the ayatollas, who were conservative Muslim leaders. The leader was Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini, who was living in exile.
In Tehran, the capital, westernization made some people very rich and others very poor. This caused extreme poverty and economic problems for Iran. These problems, along with tape-recorded messages from Khomeini, caused riots in Iran. This caused the shah to flee again due to the opposition in 1979.
When Khomeini returned to Iran, he sought to establish a strictly Islamic state. The main component of Khomeini's foreign policy was hatred of the United States because they supported the shah. He took control of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, took at least 60 Americans hostage, and forced the U.S. to make the shah face a trial. The hostages were released in 1981.
The U.S. helped the shah regain power and westernize Iran into a secular rule because it feared that they would look to the Soviet Union for aid. The shah tried to weaken the ayatollas, who were conservative Muslim leaders. The leader was Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini, who was living in exile.
In Tehran, the capital, westernization made some people very rich and others very poor. This caused extreme poverty and economic problems for Iran. These problems, along with tape-recorded messages from Khomeini, caused riots in Iran. This caused the shah to flee again due to the opposition in 1979.
When Khomeini returned to Iran, he sought to establish a strictly Islamic state. The main component of Khomeini's foreign policy was hatred of the United States because they supported the shah. He took control of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, took at least 60 Americans hostage, and forced the U.S. to make the shah face a trial. The hostages were released in 1981.
War between Iran and Iraq
Khomeini wanted all the Muslims to overthrow their secular governments, in order to unify them. This caused tension with Iraq, which was secular and led by Saddam Hussein. In 1980, war erupted.
The U.S. secretly helped both sides to ensure a balance of power in the region, while the Soviets helped Iraq. After a million Iranian and Iraqis deaths, the UN finally negotiated a ceasefire in 1988.
The U.S. secretly helped both sides to ensure a balance of power in the region, while the Soviets helped Iraq. After a million Iranian and Iraqis deaths, the UN finally negotiated a ceasefire in 1988.