IRANBy Rick Rosinski

Geography

Tehran Gateway into IranTehrans Azadi SquareAzadi Freedom TowerBuilt in 1971Made of 8000 stone blocksRenamed during the Revolution

MUHAMMAD REZA SHAH PAHLAVIShah of Iran (1941-1979)In the 1960's and 1970's Diplomancy with the Soviet Union and communist states in eastern Europe.Close connections with the USA.Foreign aid to stay in power. In 1953 assistance from the USA to return from a 3-day exile.Mohammad Reza Shah was removed by the Islamic revolution of 19795-year plans of the mid-1970's had failed.

Ayatollah KhomeiniLeader of Irans Shiite Muslims Lead Islamic fundamentalist revolutionHeld over 50 U.S. embassy workers hostage for over a year.He had thousands of Iranians put in prison or executed for opposing his ideas.In the 1980s Saddam Hussein ordered an invasion of Iran, which led to the Iran-Iraqi war.Iranian leaders used the invasion to rally the people behind the Khomeini government.

1979 Iranian RevolutionSupporter of the Shah is Lynched, Tehran, 1979

Iran becomes anIslamic Republic in 1979

Members of the Shahs secret police take to the streets to stop riots.Students of Iran stormed the American embassy in Tehran,Seizing Americans atgunpoint And holding them as prisoners.When the Shah was allowed into the U. S. for medical treatment for his cancer, the Iranian people took to the streets.Graffiti on a wall of the U. S. embassy reads,We will make America face a severe defeat. Revolution Images

Anti-American SentimentIranians celebrated their 23rd anniversary Of theirIslamic Revolution. But they also burned puppets of Uncle Sam and President Bush to protest Bushs charges that Iran is part of anaxis of evil.