~ ~ John Rand https://www.facebook.com/groups/John.Rand.Group/permalink/216033848524292/ SJARES https://www.facebook.com/shares/view?id=417382338298723 AND https://sites.google.com/site/kitkirja/iran Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavī محمدرضاشاه پهلوی October 1919 -- 27 July 1980) was the last Shah of Iran. He ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979. He was the second and last monarch of the House of Pahlavi of the Iranian monarchy. Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi held several titles: His Imperial Majesty, Shahanshah (King of Kings,[1] Emperor), Aryamehr (Light of the Aryans) and Bozorg Arteshtārān (Head of the Warriors, بزرگ ارتشتاران Mohammad Reza came to power during World War II after an Anglo-Soviet invasion forced the abdication of his father Reza Shah. During his reign, the Iranian oil industry was briefly nationalized under Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh before a US backed coup d'état overturned the regime and brought back foreign oil firms. Iran marked the anniversary of 2,500 years of continuous monarchy since the founding of the Persian Empire by Cyrus the Great. The Shah's White Revolution was a series of economic, social and political reforms with the stated intention of transforming Iran into a global power and modernizing the nation. However, poorly planned and executed, it instead resulted in a series of unintended consequences, alienating the general population from the government. The lower class saw many of the government programs, on which they relied for subsistence, eliminated or radically altered. The middle class saw the reforms as only aesthetic, giving them no real democratic or civil rights. While the wealthy perceived the reforms as undermining the basis of their power and privilege. A secular Muslim himself, Mohammad Reza gradually lost support from the Shi'a clergy of Iran, particularly due to his strong policy of modernization, secularization, conflict with the traditional class of merchants known as bazaari, and recognition of Israel. Various additional controversial policies were enacted, including the banning of the communist Tudeh Party, and a general suppression of political dissent by Iran's intelligence agency, SAVAK. According to official statistics, Iran had as many as 2,200 political prisoners in 1978, a number which multiplied rapidly as a result of the revolution. Several other factors contributed to strong opposition to the Shah among certain groups within Iran, the most notable of which were the US and UK backed coup d'état against Mosaddegh in 1953, clashes with Islamists, and increased communist activity. By 1979, political unrest had transformed into a revolution which, on 16 January, forced the Shah to leave Iran. Soon thereafter, the Iranian monarchy was formally abolished, and Iran was declared an Islamic republic.

• published: 17 Aug 2012
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