Iran+4

= = =**IRAN by Will Ginsberg, Clara M ****  ao , and **  ** Alisha Parikh ** =


 * Overview **

Iran, also known as the Islamic Republic of Iran, has developed from a monarchy following the fall of the Ottoman Empire to a republic influenced by religious values. The country has kept its Persian culture over the centuries and strictly adheres to Shiite belief. Following the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the shah of Iran was overthrown and a republic headed by a supreme leader and a president took over. From 1980 to 1988, the Iraq-Iran War took place over territorial disputes. Iran is known for its reserves of oil and natural gas, which both make up a substantial part of Iran's economy. Currently governed by Ayatollah Khamenei and President Ahmadinejad, Iran has been in disputes over its nuclear development program. The United States, Europe, and Israel have all denounced the program because of its potential danger to the world and have placed economic sanctions to discourage any further development. The relationship between Iran and the United States has been strained since the United States interfered with Iran's government in 1953, and has been further hurt by Iran's refusal to end its nuclear program. Iran is transforming from an extremely conservative government to one that has given more rights to its citizens.

**Key Figures:**


 * **Reza Khan Pahlavi**: A military officer in Persia’s Cossack Brigade, Reza Khan staged a coup of the Qatar Dynasty in 1921. His goals of modernization included a national public education system, a national railroad, and a national health care system. In 1925, Reza Khan was voted in as Persia’s new shah by an assembly and in 1926, he was crowned shah. Iran’s Pahlavi Dynasty started when Reza Khan changed his name to Reza Khan Phlavi. He reformed the army, government, and economy while also building the Trans-Iranian Railroad, establishing the University of Tehran, industrializing the country, and sending Iranian students to Europe to learn. However, his dictatorial style of rule began to anger his people by the 1930s. During World War II, Reza Khan Pahlavi declared Iran neutral but refused to make Germans leave. Because of this refusal, Britain and the Soviet Union occupied Iran in 1921 and Reza Khan was forced to give up the throne to his son, Mohammad Reza Khan Pahlavi.


 * **Mohammad Reza Pahlavi**: Replacing his father in 1941, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was a great believer in westernization. He was opposed by Iranian nationalists such as Prime Minister Muhammed Mossadeq who did not want change. Using political manipuation, the shah was able to expand his powers and made man[[image:http://www.iranchamber.com/history/mohammad_rezashah/images/shah_farah.jpg width="175" height="230" align="left" caption="Mohammad Reza Pahlavi"]]y changes to his country. By the 1950s, a modernized city of Tehran had been built filled with tall buildings and new factories. During the White Revolution of 1963, the shah had established new land reforms, more rights for women, and more schools for his people. In 1976, he angered many devout Islams by replacing the Islamic calender with a new imperial calender. During his rule, Mohammad uses the newly established Iranian intelligence organization, SAVAK, to keep control of Iran. SAVAK, or the secret police of Iran, is blamed for the death and torture of thousand of prisoners and revolters.


 * **Muhammed Mossadeq**: Mossadeq was the Prime Minister of Iran during the rule of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. In 1951, Mossadeq attempted to nationalize the British owned oil industry and in 1953, he forced the shah to flee the nation. However, the United States, fearing that the Soviet Union might start helping Iran, supported an August coup d’etat and reinstated [[image:http://i-cias.com/e.o/ill/khomeini01.jpg width="178" height="234" align="right" caption="Ayatollah Khomeini"]]the shah.


 * **Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini**: A religious Islamic leader, Khomeini helped lead the opposition of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi even while in exile. He, along with many religious leaders, did not approve of all the Western interference and the move to a secular state. In 1978, his recorded tape-messages heard by Iranians all around the country inspired riots in every major city, forcing the shah to flee in 1979. Khomeni then returned to Iran to establish an extremely Islamic and anti-US regime and became Supreme Leader. His theocratic government based on Islamic principles supported the taking of US hostages from the US Embassy in 1979 and this support sparked a crisis between Iran and the United States. In his 10 years of power, Khomeini crushed opposition, solidified Islamic rule, and established an Islamic judiciary system.


 * **Mohammad Khatami**: Elected president by an overwhelming majority in 1997, Khatami promised political, social, and economic reform. He was re-elected in 2001.


 * **Ayatollah Khamenei**: As the current supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei is the spiritual leader and holds the final veto on all political affairs. He was made supreme leader in 1989 after Ayatollah Khomeini, the last supreme leader, passed away. Before then, Khamenei had been president of Iran for eight years from 1981 to 1989. Khamenei has been vocal in his conservative, Islamic views and his dislike for the West, especially the United States. He has often been criticized for not being as charismatic as Khomeini and his lack of actual influence.

> Ahjadinejad imposed his conservative views all over the country by banning Western music, enforcing a dress code, and limiting freedom of speech. In 2005, Ahmadinejad gave a speech in front of the United Nations declaring Iran’s right to declare nuclear technology and condemning the United State’s opposition to his views at the same time In 2006, Ahmadinejad wrote an 18 page letter to then US President George Bush trying to 'ease tensions' but still defiantly stating that Iran had every right to develop nuclear technology. The United Nations imposed sanctions on nuclear materials leaving and entering Iran, but Iran continued to produce enriched uranium against orders. In 2006, Ahmadinejad gave a racist speech against Israel that questioned the historical accuracy of the Holocaust. The election of 2009 created a great controversy when Ahjadinejad’s victory was questioned by his opponents and many other countries as well. Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the most critical opponent, filed an official appeal to the Guardian Council to make sure that the voting had not been rigged. Violent protests broke out in June and lasted for two months until August of 2009 after Ahjadinejad was declared the victor after a partial recount.
 * ** Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ** : The current president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahjadinejad was overwhelmingly elected in 2005 after promising to return to Islamic values established after the revolutions of 1979. After becoming the sixth president of Iran,


 * Timeline: **


 * 1921-1924: Reza Khan, named Shah of Persia (later renamed Iran in 1935) for military success, declares Iran a neutral power during WWII which he dishonors and is forced out of power and suceeded by his son Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.


 * 1949-1957: Nationalist Prime Minister Mossadeq opposes westerization and is exiled before he gains power over the Shah. The Shah however overthrows Mossadeq with the backing of the C.I.A. and with the help of the U.S. and Israel, sets up SAVAK, an Iranian intelligence organization later blamed for torture and execution of thousands of political prisoners.


 * 1963-1978: The Shah faces opposition because of his “White Revolution,” a campaign for social and economical Westernization and is seen as anti-Islamic with every additional reform. People start to riot and protest his authority to which he responds by enforcing even more laws.
 * 1979: Iranian Revolution (1979 Revolution)
 * January 16- Shah flees and is succeeded by Ayatollah Khomeini.
 * April 1- Iran is declared a theocratic government guided by Islamic principles.
 * November 4- Islamic students storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 American employees. This ruins relations between the U.S. and Iran.


 * 1980-1988: Iraq-Iran War
 * September 1980- An eight-year war breaks out between Iraq and Iran over the Shatt alArab waterway, border disputes, control over the Persian Gulf, religious differences, and an attempted assassination.
 * 1981- Following negotiations held in Algeria, the U.S. hostages are released after 444 days of captivity.
 * 1985- The U.S. covertly seeks to sell arms to Iran in exchange for the release of the 7 American hostages being held my Iranian-backed militants in Lebanon, prompting the Iran-Contra scandal.
 * July 1988- An American navy ship shoots down an Iranian civilian plane killing almost 300 people by“accident” and repays them for damages.


 * 1989: Opposition towards non-muslims grows with the Fatwa (religious edicts) placed on writers that write blasphemy against Islam. Khomeini dies and is succeeded by Ali Khamenei as national religious leader.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1995-2003: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The United States places oil and trade sanctions on Iran, accusing the country of sponsoring terrorism, committing human rights abuses, and seeking to sabotage the Arab-Israeli peace process. President Khatami wins the 2001 election. In his January State of the Union speech, American President George W. Bush refers to Iran as part of an "axis of evil," saying the country is actively pursuing weapons of mass destruction. The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran admits to plutonium production, but the agency says there is no evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2004-2007: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Conservatives reclaim control of Iran's parliament after controversial elections that were boycotted by reformists. Iran's government says it will consider re-starting its nuclear program. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sends a letter to President Bush calling for ways to ease tensions over Iran's nuclear program, Ahmadinejad insists the nuclear program is for civilian energy purposes only.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2008-2009: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A U.S. National Intelligence Estimate report finds that Iran stopped developing nuclear weapons in 2003, but continues to enrich uranium and could still develop atomic arms in the future. This becomes a matter of serious concern. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is declared the landslide victor in presidential elections, sparking protests by supporters of candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, who unsuccessfully appealed the results to Iran's Guardian Council because he suspected Ahmadinejad of rigging the votes.


 * <span style="background-color: #dfc2e5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Maps **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[Below] the two maps show a political viewing of Iran and the borders of its neighboring powers. The first shows Iran during the Ottoman Empire and the second shows modern day Iran. Much difference in the gains or losses of Iran’s land is not visible but is shaded in the first map. It also shows British and Russian influence in regions during the Ottoman Empire. The second map shows the gains and losses of land from its wars as the boundaries are seen today. Iran has a good geographical location in terms of multiple water sources. It has access to the Sea of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea. Most Iranians are of Shi’ite Muslim background, conflicting with their Sunni neighbors in the Ottoman Empire. Their division is not only territorial but also a division of religion. Through the years, Iran has retained its identity as a Muslim nation without any outstanding changes.






 * <span style="background-color: #9cd88d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">20th Century Issues **

** Iranian Revolution (Revolution of 1979) ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">During the reign of Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, many Iranians revolted in 1979 to secure a new, more religious government. Supported by Ayatollah Khomeini, the revolutionaries succeeded and overthrew the shah permanently. This revolution reformed Iran’s government from a monarchy to a republic based on Islamic values.

** Hostage Crisis ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">On November 4, 1979, furious Iranian revolutionaries surrounded the US Embassy in Tehran and took over 60 Americans hostage. Although a few months earlier a similar group had taken the US ambassador, they released him after only a few hours because the Khomeini administration ordered them too. However, this time, Khomeini wanted to prove his power and his anti-US beliefs. In addition, the United States had allowed the former shah of Iran into the United States against the wishes of Iran, and the Iranian people wanted the United States to return the shah for trial. US President Carter did not want to militarily provoke Iran, so he instead put sanctions on the Iranian economy. After a few months, Iran decided that it had made its point and was being hurt by the sanctions, so it released the hostages after 444 days in captivity. This event, along with many other differences in US and Iranian opinion, has created tension between the two governments.

** Iraq-Iran War (First Persian Gulf War) ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In September of 1980, Iraq invaded Iran to get back land it had lost previously in 1975 when it gav e Iran better access to the Shatt al Arab waterway in order to get Iran to stop helping rebelling Kurdishes in Iran. President Saddam Hussein of Iraq wanted to get the border agreement reversed and hoped to win oil producing Iranian provinces. In addition, the Iraqi government wanted to stop the religious propaganda started by Iran’s religious government and aimed towards the secular Iraqi government. Iraqi political leaders were worried that the Shiite Iranian government would try to create discontent among the Shiites of Iraq and would encourage a revolt against the mainly Sunni Iraqi government. Iraq won many victories at first, but in 1982, Iran held its ground and refused to negotiate a peace. While Iran was attempting to capture Iraqi shipping ports, Iraq’s superior army attacked Iranian cities and oil installations. By 1987, Iraq and Iran were attacking each others ships in the Persian Gulf, so the Unites States and many other nations began to intervene in order to keep the oil industry stable. In 1988, both sides were being hurt economically, so the result of the war was a stalemate and the two countries negotiated a peace agreement with the help of the United Nations and split control of the Shatt al Arab canal.

** Westernization vs. Traditional Islamic Values ** Iran has been influenced by countries like the United States since the 20th century to modernize and become more western. During the reigns of Reza Khan Pahlavi and his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran was modernized to include skyscrapers, railroads, a reformed economy, women’s rights, land redistribution, and better education. However, many other leaders, including Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq, had more traditional views on how to govern. Eventually, the Iranian people rebelled during the Revolution of 1979 after being inspired by Ayatollah Khomeini. This revolution reformed the government and incorporated Islamic Values into the daily functioning of the government. For example, Ayatollah Khomeini became the supreme leader of the country and had final religious and political say over all issues.

** Religious Influence in Government ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Similar to the struggle between western influence and Islamic values, there has been much turmoil over the role of religion, such as the supreme leader, in the government. Iran, more formally called the Islamic Republic of Iran, has had religious leaders as an integral part of its government for many centuries. The supreme leader has the most authority and is the only person allowed to declare war or peace. When Ayatollah Khomeini was supreme leader, he was very charismatic and influential in government affairs, but his successor, Ali Khamenei has not been as welcomed. There have been dissidents who question the authority of the supreme leader and who believe he should not have as much power. In addition, when Khomeini died and Khamenei was appointed supreme leader, there was controversy whether he was even qualified because he had not yet reached the religious level required to be a supreme leader. As a result of this, the qualifications were significantly lowered and this act angered many religious leaders.

** United States vs. Iran ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There is a great deal of anti-US sentiment in Iran because of the many instances of US intervention in Iranian affairs. Starting in 1953, the US began to get involved with the Iranian government by helping to overthrow Prime Minister Mossadeq and putting the unpopular shah back onto the throne. While the US was just trying to make sure that Iran did not get too close with Russia, this act enraged the Iranian people and started hostility towards the US. This hostility grew with supreme leader Khomeini in charge during an anti-westernization era, and led up to the hostage crisis in 1979 during which over 60 American hostages were taken by an Iranian mob because the United States had allowed the previous shah of Iran into America. In addition, the United States helped Iraq during the Iraq-Iran War in which over 1 million people died. The United States has also been adamant in its desire to see Iran stop its nuclear weapons program and has been greatly criticized by Iranian leaders for doing so.


 * <span style="background-color: #9dc3d7; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">21st Century Issues **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">** Nuclear Program ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In the mid 1900’s Iran began a nuclear program and this hasn’t changed. All throughout the 21st century Iran has been enriching uranium, the key ingredient in a nuclear weapon. Other countries such as Israel and the United States have recognized the program, creating havoc between the countries. There have been five reported killing of nuclear scientists in Iran, all deaths caused by people from Israel. Israel and the United States hoped that Iran would just stop their enrichment of uranium, but this does not seem to be an option for Iran. Israel sees Iran's ongoing enrichment of uranium as a threat, and disputes could even lead to military action. The Israeli people do not want to go to war, but if they feel threaten to a point they will go into war. They hope that their allies like the United States will have their back in any action, but if not, Israel will have to take on the Iranian nuclear weapons alone. Israel will do anything to avoid this fate, but the actions of the Iranians could make war inevitable.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">** Iranian Politics ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In 2005 Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president of Iran. Since then people’s human rights have been violated numerous times. There have been cases of men being hung because they switched their political party, which Ahmadinejad called “a revolt against god”. He and the supreme leader have had numerous cases likes this and have treated people very poorly. In 2009 there was a presidential election and Ahmadinejad won with a vote of 64%. However, the people’s favorite Mir-Hossein Mousavi had a vote of 34%. Many question how is was possible that a favorite of the people lost an election in which the people voted. Many Iranians believe that Ahmadinejad rigged the election, but his win was recognized by the Council of Guardians and he is now serving his second term as president.


 * <span style="background-color: #dfc2e5; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Primary Source: **

<span class="H_Title" style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #900028; font-family: 'OFL Sorts Mill Goudy TT',serif; font-size: 140%; text-decoration: none;">Modern History Sourcebook: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #900028; font-family: 'OFL Sorts Mill Goudy TT',serif; font-size: 140%;">Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1900-89): The Uprising of Khurdad 15, 1979

<span style="font-family: Trebuchet,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;"> Born Ruhollah Hendi, the Ayatollah (the word signifies religious leader) took the name in 1930. He taught in the major Shi'ite theological school at Qom, but was exiled for his opposition to the government of the Shah. Living in Paris after 1978 he orchestrated the Islamic Revolution of 1979 in Iran. He became the effective political and religious leader of the country until his death in 1989.

<span style="font-family: Trebuchet,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;"> Those who are ignorant must be guided to a correct understanding. We must say to them: "You who imagine that something can be achieved in Iran by some means other than Islam, you who suppose that something other than Islam overthrew the Shah's regime, you who believe non-Islamic elements played a role--study the matter carefully. Look at the tombstones of those who gave their lives in the movement of Khurdad 15. If you can find a single tombstone belonging to one of the non-Islamic elements, it will mean they played a role. And if, among the tombstones of the Islamic elements, you can find a single tombstone belonging to someone from the upper echelons of society, it will mean that they too played a role. But you will not find a single tombstone belonging to either of those groups. All the tombstones belong to Muslims from the lower echelons of society: peasants, workers, tradesmen, committed religious scholars. Those who imagine that some force other than Islam could shatter the great barrier of tyranny are mistaken. As for those who oppose us because of their opposition to Islam, we must cure them by means of guidance, if it is at all possible; otherwise, we will destroy these agents of foreign powers with the same fist that destroyed the Shah's regime.

<span style="font-family: Trebuchet,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;"> Your opponents, oppressed people, have never suffered. In the time of the //taghut//, they never suffered because either they were in agreement with the regime and loyal to it, or they kept silent. Now you have spread the banquet of freedom in front of them and they have sat down to eat. Xenomaniacs, people infatuated with the West, empty people, people with no content! Come to your senses; do not try to westernize everything you have! Look at the West, and see who the people are in the West that present themselves as champions of human rights and what their aims are. Is it human rights they really care about, or the rights of the superpowers? What they really want to secure are the rights of the superpowers. Our jurists should not follow or imitate them. You should implement human rights as the working classes of our society understand them. Yes, they are the real Society for the Defense of Human Rights. They are the ones who secure the well-being of humanity; they work while you talk; for they are Muslims and Islam cares about humanity. You who have chosen a course other than Islam--you do nothing for humanity. All you do is write and speak in an effort to divert our movement from its course.

<span style="font-family: Trebuchet,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;"> But as for those who want to divert our movement from its course, who have in mind treachery against Islam and the nation, who consider Islam incapable of running the affairs of our country despite its record of 1400 years---they have nothing at all to do with our people, and this must be made clear. How much you talk about the West, claiming that we must measure Islam in accordance with Western criteria! What an error! It was the mosques that created this Revolution, the mosques that brought this movement into being. The //mihrab// was a place not only for preaching, but also for war--war against both the devil within and the tyrannical powers without. So preserve your mosques, O people. Intellectuals, do not be Western-style intellectuals, imported intellectuals; do your share to preserve the mosques!

<span style="font-family: Trebuchet,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none;">__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Analysis: __ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The article Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1900-89): The Uprising of the Khurdad 15, 1979, covers the Islamic Revolution of 1979 in Iran. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a religious leader, who taught in a Sh’ite theological school, was banished for his opposition to the government of the Shah. The father-son Shahs ruling before him believed in westernizing the country with the help of the United States of America and disliked Iranian nationalists who did not want change. Khomeini, among many others, did not approve of Western intervention and the move to change national Islamic beliefs. He believed the principles of Islam needed to be reinstalled as a result of the “xenomaniacs, people infatuated with the West, [being] empty people, people with no content!” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Ayatolla concluded that “it was the mosques that created this Revolution, the mosques that brought this movement into being,” and prayed that people would do their “share to preserve the mosques.” He believed that there were no non-Islamic or upper-class members joining his cause. This paper is trying to persuade the commoners to join in the battle to re-attain a peace within the country by restoring Islam. His many writings inspired the Iranian people to revolt and reinstate an Islamic government. This exiled religious official motivated many people to join in the Islamic Revolution and become the effective political leader of the country until his death.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> Website: http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/mod/1979khom1.asp

<span style="background-color: #95c5da; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">**Video:**

media type="youtube" key="Aqu-OzmXROw" height="315" width="560"

This video summarizes how people were able to locate "hidden" nuclear sites in Iran using satellites and the progress of Iran's nuclear technology development. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In this video, secret nuclear facilities are located by satellites. Physicist <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Richard Muller describes how the satellite travel over Iran for around 80 seconds a day due to its constant orbit. While in its orbit, however, it has discovered two nuclear facilities that are each greater than five football fields. To provide defense there are layers of concrete, and to provide secrecy the facillities are covered in dirt so to a blind eye there is nothing there. In these facilities there is plenty of room to enrich uranium, a key ingredient to nuclear weapons.


 * <span style="background-color: #9dc3d7; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;">Articles: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">**1. "****Iran's Nuclear Program"**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">__Iran’s Nuclear History__ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Iran’s first nuclear program began in the 1960s under the shah. It made little progress, and was abandoned after the 1979 revolution, which brought to power the hard-line Islamic regime. In the mid-1990s, a new effort began, raising suspicions in Washington and elsewhere. Iran insisted that it was living up to its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, but in 2002, an exile group obtained documents revealing a clandestine program. Faced with the likelihood of international sanctions, the government of Mohammad Khatami agreed in 2003 to suspend work on uranium enrichment and allow a stepped-up level of inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency while continuing negotiations with Britain, France and Germany. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> In August 2005, Mr. Khatami, a relative moderate, was succeeded as president by Mr. Ahmadinejad, a hard-line conservative. The following January, Iran announced that it would resume enrichment work, leading the three European nations to break off their long-running talks. Under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has the right to enrich uranium, but the atomic energy association called for the program to be halted until questions about the earlier, secret program were resolved.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> __The Role of Israel__ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> Iran’s announcement in Febr uary 2010 that it would begin enriching its stockpile of uranium drew a furious response from Israel, which has said it would regard an Iranian nuclear weapon as an existential threat. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told European diplomats that the sanctions needed to progress quickly. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> In November 2011, Israel tested what experts said was a long-range ballistic missile, firing it out to sea from an Air Force base just south of Tel Aviv. The test came after nearly a week of reports and speculation in the Israeli news media about whether the country’s pr ime <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">minister and defense minister had decided to attack Iran’s nuclear complexes.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 17px;">Summary: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Iran has had a deep history of producing nuclear weapons. This program began in the 1960’s, but gained little progress and was abandoned after the 1979 revolutions. Around 15 years later the program gained a second wind and raised questions in countries like The United States. Iran assured that nothing was wrong, but in 2002 a secret program was recognized by revealing secret documents. In 2003 work on uranium enrichment was stopped by president Mohammad Khatami due to raising questions. In 2005 Khatami was outrun by Mr. Ahmadinejad. The program was restarted, but then came to a stop until questions about their secret program were answered. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> More recently, in February of 2010 Iran decided to enrich their uranium, causing a huge uproar from Israel. They believed this to be a threat, and in November of 2011 sent a ballistic missle firing from an air base south of Tel Aviv. This test came just a week after reports of Israel’s head officials deciding to attack Iran or not.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 17px;">Full Article: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/iran/nuclear_program/index.html

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; line-height: 21px;">2. "Sanctions Against Iran Grow Tighter, but What's the Next Step?" **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">WASHINGTON — As the Obama administration and its European allies toughened economic sanctions against Iran on Monday — blocking its access to the world financial system and undermining its critical oil and gas industry — officials on both sides of the Atla <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ntic acknowledge that their last-ditch effort has only a limited chance of persuading Tehran to abandon what the West fears is its pursuit ofnuclear weapons.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">While the United States and Israel have not taken military options off the table, pursuing them is unpalatable, at least for now. Several American and European officials say privately that the most attainable outcome for the West could be for Iran to maintain the knowledge a <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">nd technology necessary to build a nuclear weapon while stopping short of doing so. That would allow it to assert its sovereignty and save face after years of diplomatic tensions.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> In other words, Iran would have to become a country like Japan, which has the capability to become an atomic power virtually overnight, if need be, but has rejected taking the final steps to possessing nuclear weapons. “If you’re asking whether we would be satisfied with Iran becoming Japan, then the answer is a qualified yes,” a senior European diplomat said. “But it would have to be verifiable, and we are a long ways away from trusting the regime.”

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; line-height: 21px;">Summary: The Obama administration and European allies have essentially cut out Iran of their foreign trade. They are blocking Iran’s access to the world financial system and basically boycotting Iran’s oil and gas industry, its most profitable export. The United States and European countries have decided that persuading Tehran to stop their journey to create nuclear weapons will not work, and now are abandoning this method. The United States and Israel do not rule military actions out, but they believe the actions are not a good idea. As of right now the best solution for the United States and European countries is for Iran to be able to create nuclear weapons, but not take the final steps and make peace with other countries, thus being a country like Japan. A European diplomat even said this would be satisfying. Iran is very close to obtaining nuclear weapons, but hopefully they decide to not reach this and make diplomatic peace.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Full Article: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none;">http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/world/middleeast/iran-sanctions-grow-tighter-but-whats-next.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=iran%20sanctions&st=cse

**<span style="background-color: #9cd88d; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Modern Day **

**Government** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Iran has a conservative government based on Islamic values and that incorporates religious leaders in almost all decisions. The most influential person in the Iranian government is current supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has had only two supreme leaders in its history, Ayatollah Khomeini and Ayatollah Khamenei. The supreme leader has veto power in all situations and appoints many of the government posts. Although not as prominent worldwide as President Ahmadinejad, Khamenei greatly influences the president's decisions and has final say in many issues. ** Women's Rights ** media type="youtube" key="SykGt9AHsFo" height="315" width="420"


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Women in Iran have begun to take a stand for their own rights in a society that favors males far more than females. Through better education and more access to resources, Iranian women have taken control of their own lives. After the Revolution of 1979, stricter laws were placed on women, so many used higher education as an escape from marriage. There, they were able to gain insight into how women are treated in the rest of the world. Now, over 60% of college graduates in Iran are women, compared to 30% in 1980. With this influx of women in colleges, women have also been taking Iran's workforce by storm. They have started to work in fields that used to be dominated by men and have pressed to make their voiced heard.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Even for women who cannot afford to go to college, the media has introduced new ideas to Iranian culture. Movies, books, television, and social media sites have shed light on the harsh treatment of women. These influential forms of expression have taught many Iranian women that they deserve to be treated equally. Religious women who once believed that women should remain in their place have now seen in their travels and classes in segregated universities that women do have rights that need to be recognized.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Iranian law is both beneficial and detrimental to women in that it restricts many rights but does provide some assistance. For example, in Iran, a girl can be forced into marriage at the age of 13, a man gets to keep all children older than seven in a divorce, men are free to practice polygamy, women can be stoned for adulteration, refusal to cover up in public can result in lashing and prison, and the testimony of a woman is worth only half of a man. However, Iran has also built universities just for wome[[image:imgres.jpeg align="right" caption="Protestor"]]n to improve literacy and has improved living conditions and transportation.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">There has been a sharp spike in the increase of divorces between women and abusive or unwanted husbands. Many women who were forced into marriage are now leaving their husbands and are trying to take their children with them.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">A campaign, The Campaign for One Million Signatures, has been started to raise awareness of women's rights and to reform unfair laws. The Iranian government has arrested over 40 members and has threatened to do the same to any other participants. Because of this suppression, most protesting has been done online for safety.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Similar to many countries around the world, Iran is slowly starting to recognize the importance of women in society and their right to be equal. Hopefully, in the future Iran will be able to move away from conservative views and improve the lives of all Iranian women.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Link: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/world/middleeast/13iran.html?pagewanted=all **Sanctions**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Many countries around the world, including the United States, the European Union, and Israel have placed sanctions on Iran's economy in an effort to stop Iran's development of nuclear technology. The European Union, the second largest importer of Iranian oil, banned all Iranian imports in 2012 and Iran responded by threatening to close the Straits of Hormuz which all Gulf tankers must pass through. On February 7, 2012, the U.S. placed even tighter sanctions on the Iranian economy, especially the Central Bank. President Obama signed the new sanctions into place and froze all assets belonging to any Iranian association in US banks. Along with supporting Western sanctions, Israel has sent a message of peace to the Iranians, hoping that all issues can be resolved without any military action. Iran has called these sanctions "psychological war" and has denounced these decisions.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Link: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/world/middleeast/iran-defiant-in-face-of-sanctions.html

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">**Quiz** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Who is the most influential person in the Iranian government? a. Supreme Leader b. President c. Prime Minister d. King

2. What type of person is Ayatollah Khomeini? a. Nationalist b. Conservative c. Liberal d. Radical

3. What countries have tried to influence the development of Iran’s nuclear program? a. United States b. Israel c. Iraq d. a and b e. a and c

4. What country did Iran capture hostages of during the Iranian Revolution? a. Israel b. Afghanistan c. United States d. Iraq

5. What was the Iraq-Iran War not fought over? a. hostages b. religious disputes c. Shatt alArab waterway d. control of the Persian Gulf

6. What caused the Revolution of 1979?

7. How has religion influenced changes in the Iranian government?


 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Sources: **

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/world/middleeast/iran-defiant-in-face-of-sanctions.html __ __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[] __ __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[] __ __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[] __ __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[] __ __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east] __ __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[] __ __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[] __ __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14541327 __