Cold War in the Middle East

State of the World In the 1970s and 1980s, the Soviet

Union and the US were faced new types of conflict that emerged out of their efforts to stop the spread of democracy/capitalism or communism.

Many of these conflicts greatly weakened the Soviet Union and changed global perceptions of the United States.

Clashes Between Religious and Secular Iran

Many newly independent countries in the Middle East were struggling to decide if they should form a government based around religious beliefs or a secular (non-religious) government.

Clashes Between Religious and Secular Iran

Iran’s leader Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi embraced a western style of government and had many foreign alliances.

Many Iranians did not agree with this and didn’t support the Shah.

US Supports Secular Rule The US realized the Shah was unpopular, so they gave him money to modernize Iran.

In Tehran, skyscrapers were built along with modern factories.

However, the majority of Iranians cont’d to live in poverty.

US Supports Secular Rule This made the people dislike the Shah even more and they began giving their support to an Islamic leader – Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini

Khomeini Comes to Power Massive strikes and riots, instigated by

Khomeini, broke out. In 1979, the Shah fled Iran and

Ayatollah Khomeini took over. Ayatollah Khomeini was very opposed

to any US influence in Iran, and in 1979 with the Ayatollah’s support a group of Iranian revolutionaries took over the US embassy and took more than 60 Americans hostage.

Iranian Hostage Crisis

The Crisis lasted from Nov 1979 until Jan 1981.

Yes, this is what that new (more like new-ish now) movie Argo is about. But, remember, it’s still Hollywood telling the story, so they dramatize it when needed and add/detract detail when it works better for the story.

Khomeini Encourages Revolution Khomeini believed other countries in the middle east should reject foreign influence and overthrow their secular governments.

Khomeini Encourages Revolution

This created problems between Iran and Iraq.

Both Iran and Iraq are Muslim countries, but practice different types of Islam.

Saddam Hussein, a military leader, ruled Iraq as a secular state.

Khomeini Encourages Revolution

A war between Iraq and Iran lasted eight years (1980-1988).

The US provided Iraq with intelligence, food aid, and (some) weapons.

They also secretly gave weapons to Iran in an arms-for-hostages deal. (Iran-Contra Affair)

Soviet Influence in Afghanistan Afghanistan tried to maintain their independence from the Soviet Union, but overtime their influence was increasing.

Soviet Influence in Afghanistan

In the 1970s, a Muslim revolt threatened to topple the communist regime in Afghanistan.

In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded hoping to prevent this.

Soviets Struggle

The Soviets thought they could quickly restore communism and leave, but the Mujahideen (Muslim rebels) fought hard using guerilla tactics.

Soviets Struggle The US provided the Mujahedeen with weapons to fight against the Soviets.

Soviet Union Retreats The Soviets began to realize their struggle was futile, and by 1989, they pulled out the last of their troops in Afghanistan.

Soviet Union Retreats Afghanistan was left without a stable government, and the Soviet Union was greatly weakened.