A report on People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, Iranian Revolution and Iran–Iraq War
Iraq's primary rationale for the invasion was to cripple Iran and prevent Ruhollah Khomeini from exporting the 1979 Iranian Revolution movement to Shia-majority Iraq and internally exploit religious tensions that would threaten the Sunni-dominated Ba'athist leadership led by Saddam Hussein.
- Iran–Iraq WarThe organization engaged in armed conflict with the Pahlavi dynasty in the 1970s and contributed to the overthrow of the Shah during the Iranian Revolution.
- People's Mojahedin Organization of IranThere were a number of proxy forces operating for both countries—most notably the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) – the dominant organization within the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which had sided with Iraq, and the Iraqi Kurdish militias of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which had sided with Iran.
- Iran–Iraq WarOther factors include the underestimation of Khomeini's Islamist movement by both the Shah's reign—who considered them a minor threat compared to the Marxists and Islamic socialists —and by the secularist opponents of the government—who thought the Khomeinists could be sidelined.
- Iranian RevolutionNear the end of the Iran–Iraq War, a military force of 7,000 members of the MEK, armed and equipped by Saddam's Iraq and calling itself the National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA) was founded.
- People's Mojahedin Organization of IranAt the same time, events that made up both the crisis and its resolution were the Iran hostage crisis, the invasion of Iran by Saddam Hussein's Iraq, and the presidency of Abolhassan Banisadr.
- Iranian Revolution4 related topics with Alpha
Ruhollah Khomeini
3 linksundefined
undefined
He was the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which saw the overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the end of the Persian monarchy.
Most of his period in power was taken up by the Iran–Iraq War of 1980–1988.
Despite their ideological differences, Khomeini also allied with the People's Mujahedin of Iran during the early 1970s and started funding their armed operations against the Shah.
Iran hostage crisis
3 links
On November 4, 1979, 52 United States diplomats and citizens were held hostage after a group of militarized Iranian college students belonging to the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line, who supported the Iranian Revolution, took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and seized hostages.
In September 1980, Iraq invaded Iran, beginning the Iran–Iraq War.
Leftist People's Mujahedin of Iran supported the taking of hostages at the US embassy.
Abolhassan Banisadr
2 linksIranian politician, writer, and political dissident.
Iranian politician, writer, and political dissident.
He was the first president of Iran after the 1979 Iranian Revolution abolished the monarchy, serving from February 1980 until his impeachment by parliament in June 1981.
During the Iran–Iraq War, Banisadr was appointed acting commander-in-chief by Khomeini on 10 June 1981.
According to Kenneth Katzman, Banisadr believed the clerics should not directly govern Iran and was perceived as supporting the People's Mujahedin of Iran.
Ali Khamenei
2 linksTwelver Shia Marja' and the second and current supreme leader of Iran, in office since 1989.
Twelver Shia Marja' and the second and current supreme leader of Iran, in office since 1989.
After the Iranian revolution overthrowing the shah, he was the target of an attempted assassination in June 1981 that paralysed his right arm.
Khamenei was one of Iran's leaders during the Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s, and developed close ties with the now powerful Revolutionary Guards which he controls, and whose commanders are elected and dismissed by him.
Khamenei narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by the Mujahedin-e Khalq when a bomb, concealed in a tape recorder, exploded beside him.