Confronting Iran

F

Got this for a few quid in a second hand bookshop in Oxford and it's been a slow but interesting read. Got a bit bogged down though.  Iranian history is a tad mind blowing! Can't  find this cover online, hence the photo.  I would only recommend this book if you want to know about Iranian modern history. No Isfahan,  Cyrus the Great, Zoroastrianism or Persepolis in this book! 

 Most people know I am completely fascinated by Iran, so a perfect little read for me but bloody hell there is A LOT to get your head round!  

Over the last 100 or so years Iran has been eyed up by Ottomans, Brits, Soviets, and finally the Americans. I read about how democracy was halted in the 50 s by the Brits and Yanks as they didn't like Iran's elected choice of leader, this of course was linked to the Brits and Americans losing control over the unbelievable amount of oil coming out of Iran. So the CIA assassinated him and somehow became even closer allies with Iran. Infact Iran was almost like a state of the USA. the countries seemed to be happily married in the 60s and 70s but then the crushing and bitter divorce took place between the two countries at the end of the 70s. In fact it's only now that the two countries are beginning to slowly communicate with each other again.  Both sides made bad decisions but ultimately the USA made errors by just flinging money and crude capatilism into a country which didn't need this kind of assistance.  I could see from the history a kind of simple logic behind the revolution.  it was a kind of  backlash against implied Soviet invasion from the north, Sunni aggression from their Arabic neighbours and American might and Israel thrown in for good measure.  how a country could fall under such a harsh regime is beyond me but I'm sure Iranians were just trying their best to preserve their country and protect themselves. The book then talked about the hideous war with Iraq, the emergence of Hezbullah in Lebanon...not actually Iran. and life under sanctions in this theocratic country today.  All a bit grim to be honest...

I also read about how the Bosnians were given weapons by the Iranians. Without the help of Iran Bosnian Sarajevo would have fallen.  Hence all the Iranian shops there I suppose. Never knew this until now.