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The Shah's story
The Shah's Story, an autobiography
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 29, 1980
About the author
Mohammed Reza Pahlavi
22 books144 followersمحمدرضا پهلوی
(Former) Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia (Persian: محمدرضا شاه پهلوی ; [mohæmˈmæd reˈzɒː ˈʃɒːhe pæhlæˈviː]), 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, Emperor), Aryamehr (Light of the Aryans) and Bozorg Arteshtārān (Head of the Warriors, Persian: بزرگ ارتشتاران).
This young prince, who had received his primary education in the West and under the supervision of colonial governments, came to power in Iran during World War II after his father was ousted by the British and on British orders. During his reign, with the efforts of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, the Iranian oil industry was nationalized and removed from British control. That same year, the Shah staged a coup against Mossadegh with American support. Until the Mordad coup of 1953, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was in power with British support, but from then on he became dependent on the United States and the country and Iran's oil resources were completely under the control of the United States and Israel.
A secular Muslim himself, the Shah 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. Amnesty International reported that in 1978 Iran had as many as 2,200 political prisoners.
Several other factors contributed to strong opposition to the Shah among certain groups within Iran, the most notable of which were the U.S. and U.K. backed coup d'état against Prime Minister 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.
(Former) Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia (Persian: محمدرضا شاه پهلوی ; [mohæmˈmæd reˈzɒː ˈʃɒːhe pæhlæˈviː]), 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, Emperor), Aryamehr (Light of the Aryans) and Bozorg Arteshtārān (Head of the Warriors, Persian: بزرگ ارتشتاران).
This young prince, who had received his primary education in the West and under the supervision of colonial governments, came to power in Iran during World War II after his father was ousted by the British and on British orders. During his reign, with the efforts of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, the Iranian oil industry was nationalized and removed from British control. That same year, the Shah staged a coup against Mossadegh with American support. Until the Mordad coup of 1953, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was in power with British support, but from then on he became dependent on the United States and the country and Iran's oil resources were completely under the control of the United States and Israel.
A secular Muslim himself, the Shah 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. Amnesty International reported that in 1978 Iran had as many as 2,200 political prisoners.
Several other factors contributed to strong opposition to the Shah among certain groups within Iran, the most notable of which were the U.S. and U.K. backed coup d'état against Prime Minister 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.
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November 4, 2012Hardly worth investing the time to read this book ..... too much subjectivity ........one can get a better knowledge of the Iranian Revolution through other sources!
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