Historical Events of Iran

Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz

The Father of Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA) was freed from detention
On April 6, 1964 AD, following mass protests throughout Iran, the Father of Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA) was freed from detention by the British-installed and US-backed Pahlavi regime. He was detained by the regime, following his historic speech on the eve of June 4, 1963 against the anti-Islamic and anti-national policies of the Shah.

A nationwide referendum for establishment of the sacred Islamic system in Iran
On March 30, 1979 AD, following the victory of Islamic Revolution in Iran and ouster of the Pahlavi regime, a nationwide referendum was held for determination of the type of system governing Iran. This referendum lasted for two days due to Iranian nation’s historical and unprecedented participation. Finally, 98.2% of the participants in this referendum voted for establishment of the sacred Islamic system in Iran.

The Islamic Republic Day
On April 1, 1979 AD, the Iranian nation, in less than two months after the victory of Islamic Revolution, held a two-day referendum and voted for establishment of the Islamic Republic System, with 98.2% yes votes. The 12th of Farvardin is thus marked as the Islamic Republic Day with a public holiday. Although the Iranian Muslims had on several occasions during the course of the Islamic Revolution demanded establishment of the Islamic system of government, the Father of Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA) emphasized on holding a nationwide referendum as a mark of respect for the people’s aspirations and their participations in the political, economic, cultural and all spheres of the society. In his message, on the manifestation of people’s vote for the Islamic System, he said: Congratulations on the day on which, following the martyrdom of courageous youths and after numerous hardships, you defeated the enemy once again, and opted for the just, divine ruling system with your resolute votes. In the holy Islamic system, all people are considered as equals based on the principle of divine justice, under the shade of the blessings of the holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).

The Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA) returned to the holy city of Qom
On March 1, 1979 AD, the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA) returned to the holy city of Qom, 15 years after he was exiled by the tyrannical Pahlavi regime. Twenty eight days earlier he had triumphantly entered Iran and 10 days later on the 22nd of Bahman (February 11), he had led the Islamic Revolution to victory, thereby ending monarchial rule and US hegemony over Iran. Imam Khomeini stayed in his old house in Qom for several months, before circumstances compelled him to come to Tehran, in order to have close surveillance on the affairs of the Islamic Republic.

Imam Khomeini (RA), issued the historic edict (fatwa) against the British apostate, Salman Rushdie
On February 13, 1989 AD, the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), issued the historic edict (fatwa) against the Indian-born British apostate, Salman Rushdie, for writing the blasphemous book 'The Satanic Verses', days after the devilish novel had resulted in the shedding of Muslim blood in India and Pakistan. Rushdie, who was commissioned by the Zionists and certain western regimes for writing this sacrilegious book to insult Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), Prophet Abraham (AS), and the sanctities of Islam, has been hiding ever since under protection of Britain to escape execution. World Muslims and all conscientious people hailed the Imam's dynamic fatwa, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) endorsed it. Iran has rejected western pressures in this regard, making it clear that according to divine laws the Late Imam's fatwa is irrevocable.

The first Persian-language paper of Iran, “Vaqayeh Ettefaqiyeh
On 5th of the Islamic month of Rabi as-Sani in 1267 AH, the first Persian-language paper of Iran, “Vaqayeh Ettefaqiyeh”, was published in Tehran in the third year of Naserreddin Shah Qajar's reign, due to the efforts of the famous vizier, Mirza Taqi Khan Amir Kabir. The editor-in-chief was Mirza Tazkerahchi, and its columns included news on the Iranian government, world developments, and translation of scientific articles published in the European press. Ironically, the 49th edition of this paper reported the martyrdom of this highly qualified, patriotic premier. Overall, 472 editions of this paper were published and later its publication continued under other names.

Leaders of Iran’s Constitutional Movement, Sattar Khan and Baqer Khan
On 5th of the Islamic month of Rabi as-Sani in 1328 AH, Leaders of Iran’s Constitutional Movement, Sattar Khan and Baqer Khan, arrived in Tehran after successfully defeating the forces of the corrupt Qajarid ruler, Mohammad Ali Shah, who had besieged Tabriz in northwestern Iran for 11 months. The courage and prudence of Sattar Khan and Baqer Khan was among the key leading factors to the success of the Iranian people’s movement against despotism.

The 6th Qajarid king of Iran, Mohammad Ali Shah
On 6th of the Islamic month of Rabi as-Saani in 1327 AH, the 6th Qajarid king of Iran, Mohammad Ali Shah, was forced by the constitutionalists to revive the Majlis (parliament), which he had dissolved two years earlier, shortly after succeeding his father, Mozaffar od-Din Shah, to the Peacock Throne. A repressive and inefficient ruler, he had earlier bombarded the parliament building with the help of the British and Russian forces. He was soon deposed by the constitutionalists, and on being replaced by his 11-year old son, Ahmad Shah, he fled to Russian-ruled Odessa (present day Ukraine), from where he plotted his return to power. Two years later he landed at Astarabad on the Caspian Sea coast of northern Iran, but his forces were defeated. Mohammad Ali Shah again fled to Russia, then to Istanbul and later to San Remo, Italy, where he died 14 years later on 5th April 1925, the same year the 140-year rule of the Qajarid Dynasty ended when the British formally declared their agent, Reza Khan Pahlavi as the new king, while Ahmad Shah was on an extended, almost 2-year long visit, to Europe. Every shah of Iran since Mohammad Ali Shah has died in exile.

The people of Tabriz in northwestern Iran rose against the despotic regime of the US supported Shah
On February 17, 1978 AD, the people of Tabriz in northwestern Iran rose against the despotic regime of the US supported Shah, on the 40th day of martyrs of the Qom uprising. This was a historical movement which shocked the Pahlavi regime, and triggered a series of uprisings in the different cities of Iran, which ultimately resulted in the downfall of the Shah and victory of the Islamic Revolution.

The destroyer “Jamaraan”, the first advanced Iranian warship
On February 18, 2010 AD, the destroyer “Jamaraan”, the first advanced Iranian warship, was launched. Equipped with guided sea-to-sea and sea-to-air missiles, torpedo launchers, choppers, electronic navigation, and electronic war devices, its length is 94 meters; it has the capacity to carry 1420 tons of cargo; to sail at 56 km per hour; and to carry 140 sailors. “Jamaran” is a multi-purpose warship whose sophisticated devices were manufacture by Iranian experts.

The Council of Guardians
On February 19, 1980 AD, as per a decree of the Father of the Islamic Revolution, the Council of Guardians was formed to act as a supervisory body to oversee whether the laws passed by the parliament are in conformity with the Islamic shari'a and the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This 12-member supervisory body is made up of six leading jurisprudents named by the Leader and six judicial experts named by the Judiciary Chief. The members have to win the confidence of the parliament. The Council of Guardians plays a unique role in overseeing the presidential, parliamentary and other elections, and to determine whether or not the candidates have the required qualifications and eligibility. It is a superb example of popular religious rule in Iran in line with the aspirations of the people.

The Holy Shrine in Mashhad of Imam Reza (AS), shelled by the invading Russian forces
On 10th of the Islamic month of Rabi as-Sani in 1330 AH, the Holy Shrine in Mashhad of Imam Reza (AS), the 8th Infallible Successor of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), was shelled by the invading Russian forces. The blasphemous attack which damaged the minarets was part of Moscow’s pressures on the weak Qajarid government to expel American advisor, Morgan Schuster, and appoint foreign nationals only with the permission of the Russian and British governments. A large number of people of Mashhad were martyred and wounded in this barbaric attack.

Britain carried out a coup against the weakened Qajarid rulers to make an obscure and illiterate soldier called Reza Khan, the commander of the army
On February 21, 1921 AD, Britain carried out a coup against the weakened Qajarid rulers to make an obscure and illiterate soldier called Reza Khan, the commander of the army. At the same time another British agent, named Seyyed Zia od-Din Tabatabaie was made Prime Minister. Reza Khan slavishly served British colonial interests in Iran by brutally crushing the freedom movements of the Iranian Muslim people. Four years later with the death of the last Qajarid ruler, Ahmad Shah, he was installed as king by the British and took the surname Pahlavi. He dutifully safeguarded the interests of Britain, by changing the traditional dress of the people from Iranian to European, forcing women to unveil, suppressing the ulema, and banning religious gatherings. With the outbreak of World War 2, he made the mistake of showing tendencies towards Germany, prompting Britain to replace him on the Peacock Throne with his son Mohammad Reza in 1941. Reza Khan was sent into exile to Mauritius in the Indian Ocean by the British and died there in 1944.

Iran's Muslim combatants launched the Khaybar operations in the Hoor al-Howeizah region, southwestern Iran
On February 21, 1984 AD, Iran's Muslim combatants launched the Khaybar operations in the Hoor al-Howeizah region, southwestern Iran, to free the lands occupied by the US-backed Ba'thist regime of Saddam. The Iranian combatants after driving out the Ba'thist forces from this region seized the oil-rich Majnoun Islands in the marshes to the north of the Iraqi port city of Basra. This operation astonished western military strategists backing Saddam and made them acknowledge the innovative abilities of Iran's Muslim combatants despite the sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Husseini Beheshti was elected as the first Chief Justice of Islamic Iran
On February 22, 1980 AD, following the drafting of the constitution and setting up of the Majlis (parliament), as per the decree of the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Husseini Beheshti was elected as the first Chief Justice of Islamic Iran. Ayatollah Beheshti was martyred in a terrorist bomb blast in Tehran by the notorious US-backed MKO terrorist outfit in July 1981 along with 72 senior Iranian officials, including cabinet ministers and parliament members.

Abdul-Malek Rigi, ringleader of an anti-Iranian US-backed terrorist outfit, was captured by Iranian security personnel
On February 22, 2010 AD, Abdul-Malek Rigi, ringleader of an anti-Iranian US-backed terrorist outfit, was captured by Iranian security personnel in a well planned operation. Rigi, whose satanic outfit which wrongly styles itself as Jundullah or soldiers of God, was based in Pakistani Balouchistan and had committed several acts of terrorism, killing scores of innocent men women, and children, including Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims. On learning that he had boarded a plane in Dubai for Kyrgyzstan in order to meet senior American officials for planning more acts of terrorism against the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Iranian air force waited till the airplane carrying him was in Iranian airspace, before sending its jet fighters to intercept the commercial flight and force it to land at Bandar Abbas airport. Rigi was nabbed, jailed, and tried in a court where he admitted his murderous acts of terrorism that in addition to bomb blasts including kidnapping and cold-blooded killing of his victims. He also confessed to his connections with the US, the illegal Zionist entity Israel, and certain Arab and western regimes, thus belying Washington's claim to fight terrorism. Rigi was executed by hanging on June 20, 2010.

The Soviet Union entered into an agreement with Iran
On February 26, 1921 AD, the Soviet Union entered into an agreement with Iran four years after triumph of the Bolshevik Revolution by declaring all treaties imposed on Iran by Czarist Russia as null and void. The Soviet Union was under threats from all directions and the main purpose of the treaty was to ensure prevention of any anti-communist activities from Iranian soil. However, despite canceling all Czarist imposed treaties, the Soviet Union did not return to Iran the lands which the Czars had seized in the Caucasus, including what is known today as the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan, Daghestan, and parts of Central Asia such as the region of Merv in what is now the Republic of Turkmenistan.

Saddam unleashed cowardly missile attacks on residential areas of Tehran and other cities
On March 1, 1988 AD, following repeated defeats of the Ba'thist invaders at the Iranian borders, Saddam unleashed cowardly missile attacks on residential areas of Tehran and other cities. These US-supported dastardly missile attacks continued for almost 45 days, but failed to break the resistance of the Iranian people. This was the 4th time during the 8-year imposed war that Saddam had attacked Iranian cities.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty went into effect after ratification by 43 nations including the Islamic Republic of Iran
On March 5, 1970 AD, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty went into effect after ratification by 43 nations including the Islamic Republic of Iran, calling for a world free of weapons of mass destruction. Today Iran continues to invoke the NPT for peaceful use of atomic energy, in contrast to the diabolical policies of the US – the world’s most dangerously nuclear-armed power.

The Shah’s premier and British stooge, General Ali Razmara
On March 6, 1951 AD, the Shah’s premier and British stooge, General Ali Razmara, was executed in a revolutionary way by Muslim activist, Khalil Tahmasebi, who shot him dead. He was named prime minister without having to relinquish command of the army, and thereafter worked against national interests. The people and the ulema strongly opposed him, and his revolutionary execution was in fact a warning to many of the members of the Shah’s parliament, who as British stooges were obstructing nationalization of Iran’s oil industry. Soon the bill calling for nationalization of Iran’s oil industry was approved by the parliament’s oil committee.

The Algiers Accord
On March 6, 1975 AD, the Algiers Accord was inked in the Algerian capital for resolution of the Iran-Iraq border dispute regarding the Shatt al-Arab/Arvand Roud waterway. The agreement ended the Shah’s support for Iraqi Kurds, while Baghdad agreed to fix the southern border of the two countries in the middle of the waterway. In Algiers, the signatory was the then vice president of the Ba’th minority regime, Saddam, who five years later in September 1980, tore the accord in front of TV cameras to launch his invasion of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Saddam’s US-supported 8-year war ended in 1988 without any victory for him, and two years later in 1990, he ate the humble pie to officially admit the validity of the Algiers Accord.

Establishment of the Foundation of Martyrs
On March 12, 1980 AD, the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), issued a decree for establishment of the Foundation of Martyrs to take care of the families of those who had achieved martyrdom in the struggle against the Shah's despotic regime. His message read: “We all know that the Islamic Movement and victory of Islamic Revolution is indebted to selflessness of different strata of people. First of all, the martyrs of the Islamic Revolution, and those, who have been disabled on this righteous path should be praised. Hence, taking care of the affairs of families of martyrs and the disabled is very essential and these families should be respected in the best possible manner.”

The first legislative elections were held in Islamic Iran
On March 14, 1980 AD, the first legislative elections were held in Islamic Iran, thereby materializing one of the prime goals of the Islamic Revolution to choose lawmakers in a free and fair atmosphere, at a time when enemies were hatching conspiracies to undermine the government. The Iranian people, under the leadership of the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA) foiled all conspiracies, as the Majlis started its activities. Today the Majlis has 290 lawmakers, who are chosen by people’s votes for a 4-year term. Iranian Sunni Muslims in the Kurdish, Turcoman, and Baluch areas, elect their own representatives to the national parliament, while non-Muslim minorities, such as the Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians, also elect representatives from their own community to the Majlis. The laws passed by the Legislature ought not to violate the fundamental principles of Islam and the Constitution. The Majlis grants or refuses vote of confidence to ministers, and has the power to impeach them, including the President.

Agents of foreign powers triggered a bomb blast in the massive Friday Prayer gathering at Tehran University Campus
On March 14, 1985 AD, agents of foreign powers triggered a bomb blast in the massive Friday Prayer gathering at Tehran University Campus, martyring and injuring many innocent worshippers. Meanwhile, timed with this terrorist operation during the height of the imposed war, Iraqi warplanes flew over Tehran to create panic in the city. The bomb blast failed to disrupt the Friday Prayer gathering and President Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who was delivering the Tehran Friday Prayer sermons, continued his speech.

Baghdad’s repressive B’ath minority regime bombarded the northeastern Iraqi Kurdish city of Halabche
On March 16, 1988 AD, Baghdad’s repressive B’ath minority regime bombarded the northeastern Iraqi Kurdish city of Halabche with internationally banned chemical weapons, killing 5,000 men, women, and children, and maiming 10,000 others, at a time when Iraqi Kurdish combatants welcomed Iran’s Muslim combatants as liberators from Saddam’s tyrannical rule. Western regimes, such as the US, Germany, France and Britain, which had supplied Saddam with chemical weapons, remained silent in the face of these barbaric crimes against humanity. The UN also ignored the catastrophe for several years.

Nationalization of Iran’s oil industry
On March 19, 1951 AD, following the struggles of Iranian nation against British colonialists and their agent the Shah’s regime, the parliament and senate approved a bill for nationalization of Iran’s oil industry. Ratification of this bill was a turning point in the Iranian nation’s anti-colonial movement. With the approval of this law, Dr. Mohammad Mosaddeq, with the support of people and religious figures, including Ayatollah Seyyed Abu’l-Qasem Kashani, was elected as premier and implementation of this act was placed on the agenda of the government. Meanwhile, the Western regimes boycotted Iran’s oil and Britain filed a complaint with The Hague Tribunal due to a cut in its illegitimate interests in buying Iran’s oil. But, this court voted in favor of Iran. The said act, despite the conspiracies hatched by the British and the Shah’s regime, was implemented on June 19, 1951.

Iran formally asked the international community not to use anymore the Greek-European term “Persia”
On March 21, 1935 AD, Iran formally asked the international community not to use anymore the Greek-European term “Persia” for the country and to call it the by its native name “Iran” in all documents.

The Pahlavi regime desecrated the sanctity of the Faiziyyeh Islamic Seminary in the holy city of Qom
On March 22, 1963 AD, the Pahlavi regime desecrated the sanctity of the Faiziyyeh Islamic Seminary in the holy city of Qom, beating and martyring several ulema and students. This was a prelude to the historic uprising of June 5, 1963 (Khordad 15), and finally the victory of the Islamic Revolution in February 1979.

The heroic "Fath ol-Mobin" operations were launched by Iran’s Muslim combatants
On March 22, 1982 AD, the heroic "Fath ol-Mobin" operations were launched by Iran’s Muslim combatants to drive out Saddam's invading army, and resulted in the liberation of parts of southwest Iran from Ba'thist occupation. Over 25,000 Ba'thist troops were killed or wounded and 15,000 taken captive, along with a large number of equipment.