Iran before and after the Islamic revolution

Iran before and after the Islamic revolution

The Iranian revolution was not received well in the United States, who had supported the Shah until it became clear that he could not survive. Khomeini built much of his support around anti-Westernization, anti-American rhetoric and continued to push this message once he gained control. When the United States allowed the exiled Shah into the country for cancer treatments, a group of armed students took control of the U.S. embassy, holding 66 Americans hostage. The crisis lasted 444 days and permanently spoiled relations between the two countries. When Iraq invaded Iran in 1980, the United States quickly sided with Iraq, providing intelligence and economic aid throughout the 8-year conflict (Parsa, 2006).

The Iranian revolution was largely a backlash against American imperialism and the oppressive and authoritarian policies of the Shah. Unfortunately, many of aspirations of the revolution were lost due to the influence of religious extremists, who co-opted the revolution to advance their own goals.

The first time in the modern world that religious leaders have overthrown a secular regime and established a theocracy. After the fall of Muhammad Reza Pahlavi in the Iranian revolution (1978-9) a referendum in March 1979 gave overwhelming support for the establishment of an Islamic Republic (Moaddel, 2006). At first laymen held important posts, but after the dismissal of President Bani-Sadr in 1981 clerics held all the highest positions. The first Prime Minister appointed by Ayatollah Khomeini was a devout layman, Mehdi Bazargan, but new revolutionary organizations sprang up spontaneously and, supported by Khomeini, took over the work of government institutions. Armed revolutionary committees gained control of the towns, arrested members of the former regime and confiscated their property. Revolutionary courts replaced ordinary courts and executed members of the hated Savak (security police) and army officers, creating, according to Bazargan, 'instability, terror, uneasiness and fear' in 'shameful' trials. Revolutionary Guards, the most important of the new institutions, provided a military force parallel to that of the army but under clerical control. The Islamic Republican Party (IRP), directed by radical Ulama (religious leaders), was the most influential party in shaping the Islamic Republic (most other parties were closed down). A Revolutionary Council, appointed by Khomeini, duplicated the work of the cabinet and challenged its authority. Bazargan could give orders but they were ignored, so that he likened his government to 'a knife without a blade' (Lesch, ...