A Political History of Contemporary Iran

Dr. Roy Casagranda explains the key events in shaping the current state of Iran over the last 125 years. This video covers the 1901 oil concession to Britain, the 1953 CIA-backed coup against Prime Minister Mossadegh, the rise and rule of the Shah, the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and the collapse of the reform movement. It explores how foreign intervention, domestic repression, and cultural shifts have shaped Iran’s political system, economy, and relationship with the West — offering context for current tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the broader Middle East. *I made an error in the video: Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was the 4th President of Iran! He was in office 16 August 1989 – 3 August 1997 ~~~ 00:00:00 Introduction 00:08:00 How Britain Got Interested in Iran (Late 1800s) 00:16:00 The Global Oil Race Begins (1901) 00:24:00 Birth of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (1908–1914) 00:32:00 Sykes–Picot: Redrawing the Middle East (1916–1918) 00:40:00 Iran’s First Shot at Democracy (1906–1911) 00:48:00 Reza Shah Pahlavi Rises to Power (1921–1925) 00:56:00 Iran Gets Invaded in WWII (1941) 01:04:00 Post-War Struggles and Ethnic Tensions (1945–1946) 01:12:00 Mohammad Mosaddegh and the Oil Nationalization (1951–1953) 01:20:00 The CIA Coup That Changed Everything (1953) 01:28:00 Propaganda, Bribery, and a Staged Uprising (1953) 01:36:00 The Shah Returns as an Authoritarian Ruler (1953–1960s) 01:44:00 The White Revolution and Its Consequences (1963–1970s) 01:52:00 Cultural Shifts and the Road to Revolution (1970s) #IranHistory #MiddleEast #mosaddegh ~~~ Suggested music: 1) Baraye (Shervin Hajopour) (This song makes me cry!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0th9_v-BbUI 2) Baraye (Rana Mansour version in English) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCUfgHHkLcA 3) Women's anthem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Wd0tdM-rU 4) Another one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU2qisk5BWM 5) this is the anthem from 2009 (called My Grade School Friend) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSMMduNeklY 6) Another 2009 song (my country, my country) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oazTiNckGU ~~~ © Dr. Roy Casagranda – All Rights Reserved All video content featuring Dr. Roy Casagranda is the intellectual property of Dr. Roy Casagranda. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, or re-uploading of this content—whether in full or in part—is strictly prohibited. This includes audio extractions, edited versions, impersonation accounts, and reposts across platforms. We actively monitor and enforce copyright claims. Repeat or willful violations may result in takedowns, account strikes, or legal action.