IRAN INTRODUCTION History Geographical Setting Social Institutions 8

IRAN INTRODUCTION History Geographical Setting Social Institutions 8 Year War Living Conditions By: Negin Ahmadi

Iran HISTORY History Geographical Setting IRAN § Only Shia government in the world Social Institutions § Capital city: Tehran 8 Year War § Muhammad Reza: King of Iran from 1941 -79 Living Conditions § 1979: Shah leaves Iran § Islamic republic in 1979

IRAN HISTORY History Geographical Setting Social Institutions 8 Year War Living Conditions § Ayatollah Khomeini returned from France § Many people leave Iran § December 2 nd, 1979: Iran, an Islamic country § July 27 th, 1980 Shah died § 1980: Saddam Hussein attacks the Iranian cities § American hostages released on January 1981 § July 1988 the Iraq/Iran war ended § On June 4 th, 1989 Khomeini died

IRAN GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING History Geographical Setting Social Institutions 8 Year War Living Conditions A. Location § In the Middle East § Bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea B. Climate § variable climate § Northwest: cold winters and heavy snowfalls, Spring and Fall weather is mild, while summer is dry and hot § South: Mild winter, very hot summer

IRAN GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING C. Topography History Geographical Setting Social Institutions § Consists of rugged, mountainous rims surrounding high interior basins § Center of Iran consists of closed basins called the Central Plateau § Eastern part of the plateau covered by salt-desserts: Dashte kavir & Dashte Lut 8 Year War § No major rivers in the country Living Conditions D. Minerals and Resources § Has one of the oldest oil industries in the Developing Countries § Second largest country in Natural Gas reserves

IRAN GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING History Geographical Setting Social Institutions E. Transportation § Highways: 167, 157 km Air Service 8 Year War § 303 Airports with only Living Conditions 125 paved runways

IRAN GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING History Geographical Setting F. Communication § 14, 571, 100 telephone lines (2003) Social Institutions § Radio broadcasting stations: AM 72, & FM 5 Religion § Internet Users: Only 4, 3 Million (2003) Living Conditions § Internet Hosts: 5, 269 (2004)

IRAN SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS History Geographical Setting § Population: approximately 70 Million people Social Institutions § Average Life expectancy: 69, 66 % 8 Year War Living Conditions § Capital: Tehran § Divided into 28 provinces § Religion: 89% follows Shia Islam, 9% Sunni Islam, other 2% are Jewish, Christian and Other

IRAN SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS History Geographical Setting Social Institutions 8 Year War Living Conditions Political System § Islamic Republic of Iran since 1979 § President: Muhammad Khatami § Supreme Leader: Ali Khamenei § Constitution revised in 1989 and eliminated Prime Ministership

IRAN Social Institutions History Geographical Setting Social Institutions Monarch § King of Iran from 1941 -1979 § During WWII, Britain and USSR § In 1941 the two countries occupied large areas of Iran 8 Year War § Forced Reza Shah Pahlavi to abdicate Living Conditions § Muhammad Reza Shah given the thrown Muhammad Reza Shah & his wife Farah

IRAN SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS History Geographic al Setting Social Institutions § Shah reviving the army § In 1963: “White Revolution” § In 1967: crowned himself as king of the kings (Emperor of Iran) - & Farah Diba, as Shahbanoo (Emperess) § By mid-70’s had many enemies 8 Year War § Created the “SAVAK” Living Conditions § January 1979 Shah fled Iran § The exiled cleric Ayatollah Khomeini back to Iran

IRAN New Government History Geographical Setting Social Institutions New Gov. Living Conditions § Khomeini as Islamic leader from 1979 -1989 § 1962 he telegraphed Reza Shah & the prime minister § June 1963: Khomeini delivered a speech (warning shah) § Shah sent for Khomeini’s arrest § Released after less than a month, but arrested again later § Sent to Turkey

IRAN New Government History Geographical Setting § Left Turkey and lived in Iraq for 13 years Social Institutions § Shah was overthrown by people New Gov. Living Conditions § On October 3 rd, 1978 he moved to Paris § December 2 nd, 1979: Islamic republic of Iran § “First day of God’s government”

IRAN Iran/Iraq War History Geographical Setting § Lasted from 1980 -1988 Social Institutions § Shatt al Arab 8 year war § The 1847 treaty Living Conditions § 1975 treaty

IRAN Iran/Iraq War History OTHER REASONS Geographical Setting Social Institutions 8 year war § Both countries, Muslim nations § Sunni Iraqi leader vs. Shii Iranians § Saddam trying to establish himself as leader of Arab world Living Conditions § Iran as primary competition for regional dominance.

IRAN Iran/Iraq War History Geographical Setting Social Institutions 8 year war Living Conditions § Syria, Lybia, China, and North Korea as Iran’s ally’s. § Israel supported Iran: - Iraq viewed as a more immediate danger. - A large number of Jews in Iran. § United States’ concerns

IRAN Iran/Iraq War History Geographical Setting Social Institutions 8 Year War Living Conditions § The security of weaker nations in region at risk § Economic security of western nations that depended on Gulf oil at risk § Reagan selling weapons to Iran § Initial sales through Israel § Using money to fund the Nicaraguan resistance in 1985 § War finally ended in 1989 § Iraq’s use of poison gas

IRAN Living Condition History § Freedom of thought and expression Geographical Setting Social Institutions 8 Year War Living Condition § Freedom of the press § Release of political prisoners § Khatami as “elected reformer”? § Iranians rejecting tyranny and oppression § 2003 Nobel Peace Prize (Shirin Ebadi)