How did WWII occupation of Iran pave the way for the Islamic Revolution?

[lightbulb27]

British and Russians invaded Iran to secure the rail lines to distribute equipment to Russia to fight Germany... and toss out the Germans.

The Iranian army gave up soon, and the Shah was replaced. That "wound" never quite healed.

Subsequenly, there was hardship (lack of food/medicine) for Iranians that lead to death of up to 4 million people.

"The WWII occupation transformed Iranian political thought from a desire for reform into a demand for total upheaval. It convinced a generation of thinkers that the Western world was inherently predatory, leading to a revolutionary government that views international diplomacy through a lens of permanent suspicion and "sacred" resistance.

For a proud millenia peoples, that creates some resistance...

Note: I am not suggesting USA would be successful invading.

[Lliam]

That was a good analysis. Interesting.

Iran was undeveloped but it had lots of oil, so it was treated in a colonial manner before, during and after WWI and WWII. The British, in particular, wanted its oil.

Reza Shah came to power by leading a British-assisted military coup in February 1921.
Forced by an Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran during World War II, he was compelled to step down in favor of his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, due to Allied suspicions of his pro-German sympathies and concerns over securing regional oil supplies.

Mohammad Mosaddegh was appointed Prime Minister of Iran in April 1951 by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi after a strong vote of confidence from the Majlis (Parliament), driven by immense popularity and his championing of the oil nationalization movement. His rise was supported by his nationalist National Front party, aiming to end British control over Iranian oil resources.
The British didn't like that. They thought the oil was theirs and didn't want to share it, just like Trump thinks Venezuelan oil belongs to the U. S.

The 1953 Iranian coup d'état, known as Operation Ajax, was a joint Anglo-American covert operation that overthrew Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, strengthening the Shah's authoritarian rule. Initiated by the CIA and British intelligence, the coup aimed to restore control over Iranian oil resources and prevent a perceived shift toward Soviet influence.

In the meantime, Middle Eastern countries had begun moving toward independence primarily after World War I, with acceleration in the 1930s and a major wave of decolonization following World War II (1945–1970s). While some gained early nominal sovereignty (Iraq in 1932, Egypt in 1922/1936), most obtained full independence from British and French mandates in the 1940s (Syria/Lebanon 1945–46).

A desire for independence began to grow among Iranians, as well. They saw the Shah as a brutal, authoritarian dictator puppet of Britain and the U. S.
That finally led to the revolution and toppling of the Shah in 1979. And the U. S. was as outraged as it had been when Castro took over Cuba.

[Zack-Bann]

The festering of Islam, specifically Shia Islam is the main catalyst for the revolution.


Because when the previous regime was doing business with American and English companies to sell oil like the rest of the gulf nations, Ruhollah Khomeini got greedy from his exile in France and triggered the revolution using larger numbers to dissuade any counter measures


The Shah wanted the country to be agnostic.
But he failed to disperse the religious organizations before they grew too big to hold back

[lightbulb27]

It frankly... looks difficult to hold together, unlike USA, without a forceful hand. Agree?

[Zack-Bann]

I agree it’s difficult but I disagree that it’s unlike USA

Volatile political systems are all over the world

A forceful hand has benefits but comes with risks

Either way the current system is already beyond saving
So regardless of what it turns into later (better or worse) this crew needs to go and fast

[jshm2]

It didn't.

The Iranian revolution was more down to the end of colonial thinking in the West and Iran throwing off the Shah.

[exitseven]

Whether it is or not, they will be in the rear view soon.

[beefcakebradybatson]

Iranians believed Westerners thuggish and evil, leading them to forsake democracy for Islamic fundamentalism.