Main Things to Know about Iran
1. Iran is the LARGEST country in the Middle East. It is about the size of ALASKA and has
a population of 70 million
2. Iran has the second largest OIL and NATURAL GAS reserves in the world.
3. It gets its name from their ancient ancestors, the ARYANS.
4. Iran was the home of the ancient PERSIAN Empire.
5. Iranians are not ARABS. They are PERSIANS who speak FARSI.
6. Iranians are SHI’ITE Muslim. Most Muslims are SUNNI.
7. Prior to 1979, Iran was ruled by the SHAH, which means KING.
8. The Shah’s father had taken power in a COUP (ILLEGAL TAKEOVER) and had the
support of the BRITISH.
9. The Shah and his father MODERNIZED the economy and made SOCIAL reforms, which
gave WOMEN rights.
10. But the Shah was a DICTATOR and his SECRET POLICE were brutal.
11. The Shah was supported by the U.S. who even helped him REGAIN the throne after a
COUP.
12. In 1978 and 1979, people PROTESTED against the Shah. People from ALL WALKS OF
LIFE protested. 10,000 were killed.
13. This revolution became known as the ISLAMIC Revolution of 1979.
14. Iranian students took 52 AMERICANS hostage and held them for 444 days.
15. After the revolution, Iran became a THEOCRACY. It is ruled by RELIGIOUS leaders.
16. AYATOLLAH KHOMEINI took power. He made ISLAMIC reforms, made women wear
the CHADOR (HIJAB) and eliminated WESTERN influences.
17. Iran fought a war against IRAQ from 1980 to 1988. 1 MILLION died.
18. The former president of Iran is MAMOUD AHMADINEJAD. He made very harsh
statements about ISRAEL and his reelection in 2009 seemed to have been RIGGED. It
sparked protests among YOUNG, URBAN Iranians whose slogan was “WHERE’S MY
VOTE?”
19. Iran and the U.S. have had NO DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS since 1979. Recently, there
have been tensions over Iran’s NUCLEAR and MISSILE programs. Iran is also considered a
STATE SPONSOR of terrorism. It supports HAMAS and HEZBOLLAH and was involved in
attacks on AMERICANS in LEBANON in the 1980s.
20. Iran has suffered under SANCTIONS (PUNISHMENTS) posed by the international
community, led by the U.S.
21. In 2013, HASSAN ROUHANI, a MODERATE was elected president and promised to
improve Iran’s RELATIONS with the world. Talks with the U.S. were held for the first time
since 1979.
22. In 2015, Iran reached a landmark AGREEMENT with the U.S. and 5 other countries. As
part of this deal, Iran agreed to HALT its NUCLEAR PROGRAM in exchange for RELIEF
from sanctions.
23. ISRAEL and some members of the U.S. CONGRESS are SKEPTICAL of this agreement.
24. Contrary to common American perceptions, Iran is actually a very MODERN country and
many of the people like the U.S.