Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza PAHLAVI was forced into exile.
US-Iranian relations have been strained since a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held it until 20 January 1981. Much of this discourse, it should be noted, was because of a small faction of young rebellious students…not indicative of the majority populas of this minunderstood land.
Conservative clerical forces established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader who, according to the constitution, is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts – a popularly elected 86-member body of clerics.
During 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces between 1987 and 1988. It was unfortunate that leaders and U.N. negotiators could not diffuse this mayhem.
Iran has been troubled by terrorism and remains subject to US, UN, and EU economic sanctions and export controls because of continued problems that have not been able to be solved peacefully. Following the election of reformer Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad KHATAMI as president in 1997 and a reformist Majles (legislature) in 2000, a campaign to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction was initiated.
As in most countries, the people just want peace and harmoney to exist. They simply want to live happily and raise their children and enjoy all of the beauty that life as human beings allows.
The movement floundered as conservative politicians, through the control of unelected institutions, prevented reform measures from being enacted and increased repressive measures. Starting with nationwide municipal elections in 2003 and continuing through Majles elections in 2004, conservatives reestablished control over Iran’s elected government institutions, which culminated with the August 2005 inauguration of hardliner Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD as president.
His controversial reelection in June 2009 sparked nationwide protests over allegations of electoral fraud. The UN Security Council has passed a number of resolutions (1696 in July 2006, 1737 in December 2006, 1747 in March 2007, 1803 in March 2008, and 1835 in September 2008) calling for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities and comply with its IAEA obligations and responsibilities. Resolutions 1737, 1477, and 1803 subject a number of Iranian individuals and entities involved in Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs to sanctions.
Makepeace.org hopes for positive directions to emerge as the voices of the Iranian people are heard more clearly…and peacefully.
The Iranian people are our brothers and our sisters. Pray for their country to find peace so that the beauty and goodness of Iran and the Iranian people will shine brightly for all of the world to see in the near future.
GO TO FEATURED VIDEOS TO VIEW THE FACSINATING VIDEO ENTITLED: BEAUTIFUL IRAN…
