[1:30] Note on the first revolution:
Iran’s constitutional revolution began at the turn of the 20th century with Shi’a clergy spurring the Tobacco Protests of 1891. Later, in 1911, a Parliamentary system was created to appease democracy advocates. It’s important to note the fact that the clergy were heavily involved with political activism at the time, a fact that would help Ayatollah Khomeini’s credibility some 50 years later.
[2:03] The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company:
The Anglo-Iranian (formerly Anglo-Persian) Oil Company had direct ties to the governments of both Iran and Britain at the time of Mossadegh’s election. After being removed from Iran, it was renamed to British Petroleum (BP), and is still a controlling power in the oil industry to this day.
[3:00] Operation Ajax:
After Mossadegh’s declaration that he would nationalize the Iranian oil industry, the Eisenhower administration collaborated with MI6 to fund and stage a military coup. According to declassified CIA documents, hundreds of pro-shah protesters were hired to stage demonstrations in Tehran to put additional pressure on Mossadegh. Eventually, the prime minister resigned after an attempted military takeover in 1953.
[3:29] SAVAK:
Shortly after Rezah Shah II’s takeover of the government, the CIA assisted him in the creation of the SAVAK secret police, an agency responsible for intimidating, detaining, and torturing many of the Shah’s opponents. It was eventually dissolved after the 1979 revolution.
[4:40] Khomeini’s pre-exile activism:
“If we do not mention what the Shah is like, does that mean he is really not like that? Indeed, you must do something to change this situation. You are being blamed for everything. You helpless creature, you don’t realise that on the day when a true outburst occurs, not one of these so-called friends of yours will want to know you. They are all friends of the dollars. They hold no belief or moral principles and they have no sense of loyalty.” (Khomeini 1963).
Khomeini speaking against the Shah, June 1963 (Wikimedia Commons).
[5:27] Khomeini’s return:
Khomeini upon returning to Iran, Feb. 1979 (Associated Press)
[6:15] Note on women during the Iranian Revolution:
While not directly within the scope of the podcast, I would be remiss to not acknowledge Haleh Esfandiari’s book “Reconstructed Lives: Women & Iran’s Islamic Revolution”. This book consists of interviews with 32 female professionals pertaining to their experiences before and after the revolution, which provide a compelling picture of a seldom-discussed aspect of said revolution. Women’s lives were drastically changed post-revolution, with many losing their positions in the government of companies where they worked. This book is definitely worth a read if one is interested in this perspective on Islamic revolution.
[7:33] Note on personality cults:
A personality cult arises when a nation’s leader uses acts of heroism, patriotism, or religious symbolism to evoke pride within their subjects. This is often an effective means of controlling these subjects, and has been proven effective in regimes such as those of Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong.
[8:35] Ali Khameini:
The second and current supreme leader of Iran, Khameini was appointed shortly after Ayatollah Khomeini’s death in 1989.