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Government is overthrown, and new Shah Reza Khan launches campaign to modernize country. He hopes to establish national npublic education system, improve healthcare, and build national railroad.
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The country is officially renamed Iran. Khan's dictatorial approach is causing resentment in the country's people.
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Although Iran said it was neutral during WWII, its British-controlled oil interests are maintained by German workers. When asked by Britian to expel German citizens, Khan refused. Following British and Soviet occupation of western Iran, he is forced out of power. His son, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, succeeded him on the throne.
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Ali Razmara becomes prime minister and is killed in less than nine months after. The nationalist, Mohammad Mossadeq, becomes the prime pinister after him.
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Britian places an embargo and a blockade on Iran, stopping most trading and badly hurting their economy. A power struggle between Mohammed Mossadeq - the prime minister - and Mohammed Reza - the Shah - results in the Shah fleeing the country in 1953.
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Mossadeq is overthrown by a coup planned by British and American intelligence services. Fazlollah Zahedi becomes the new prime minister, and the Shah returns to the country.
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The Shah starts a campaign to modernize the country again. He launches the "White Revolution", a program of land reform and overall modernization and westernization. He increasingly starts to rely on the secret police (SAVAK) in controlling the opposition.
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The Shah's policies lead to riots, strikes and mass demonstrations. Martial law is imposed.
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After the Shah's decreasing popularity, he and his family are exiled from the country.
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The Islamic Republic of Iran is proclaimed following a referendum.
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Abolhasan Bani-Sadr is elected the first President of the Islamic Republic. The government begins to work on a major nationalization program.
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Start of Iraq-Iran War that last eight years.
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Iran accepts a cease-fire agreement from Iraq.
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US President George Bush describes Iraq, Iran and North Korea as an "axis of evil", warning of the long-range missiles that might be developing in these countries. The speech causes outrage in all three countries.
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Iran says it is stopping its uranium programs and will allow UN inspections of its nuclear facilities. UN concludes there is no evidence of a weapons program.
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Iran' government says it has started nuclear activities again and says the program is for peaceful purposes. UN finds Iran in violation of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
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Iran's president announces that they are able to produce enery on an industrial scale using nuclear power.
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The UN declares that Iran could develop nuclear weapons within 3 to 8 years if it chooses to, making it a potential threat that could be a huge danger to many countries.
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Up to this very day, Iran is still untrusted and worried of, and even as people cross their fingers and hope that it won't happen, Iran might be developing weapons of mass destruction.