Revolutionary Ride
Page 29
A big thank you to the formidable Masih Alinejad and Ahad Ghanbary for their ongoing support. Great Iranians, both. And to Nader Omidvar for his positivity and kind words, and chasing up his dad for me.
To my fellow author and two-wheeled globetrotter pal, Ants Bolingbroke-Kent for writerly support and chai. To Shirin Shabestari, Iranian adventurer, climber and my Iran-doost in London, thank you for your enthusiasm and good energy. And to Raha Kamezi for early encouragement and top tips – seer shodam merci – it didn’t work.
And on the road, big thanks to my fellow motorcycle travellers, Andreas in Ankara for his help and hospitality, and to Polly, Ivo and everyone at Motokamp in Bulgaria for looking after me on my way east.
There were many Iranians who gave so much of their time and energy to help me during my journey but who cannot be named – you know who you are. Thank you.
Finally, thank you to the people of Iran who welcomed me so wholeheartedly and unconditionally. You have taught me so much. And, of course, thanks to Habib for the invitation …
Timeline of Significant Events
1906 First parliament formed and constitution created.
1908 The British discover oil in southern Persia and form the Anglo-Persian Oil Company.
1921 Reza Khan, a soldier, takes control of the army in a coup.
1925 Reza Khan crowns himself the first Shah of the Pahlavi line and begins his modernisation programme.
1935 Reza Shah changes the country’s name from Persia to Iran.
1941 Reza Shah is exiled by British and Soviet forces due to perceived support for Nazi Germany during WWII. His son, Mohammed Reza, becomes Shah.
1951 Nationalist Mohammad Mossadeq is elected Prime Minster and proceeds to nationalise the oil industry.
1953 The CIA and MI6 coordinate a coup to oust Mossadeq.
1963 The Shah implements his ‘White Revolution’ series of reforms, improving women’s rights and eroding the power of the clerics, tribes and powerful landlords.
1964 Ayatollah Khomeini is sent into exile in Iraq for criticising the Shah and the USA.
1971 The Shah throws a lavish celebration at Persepolis to celebrate 2,500 years of the Persian monarchy.
1978 Anti-Shah protests erupt in Tehran. The army shoot and kill protestors.
1979 The Shah flees Iran. Khomeini returns from exile to tumultuous support. The Islamic Republic of Iran is proclaimed following a referendum. Supporters of the Shah are executed. Fifty-two Americans are taken hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran by a group of students. Diplomatic relations are severed between Iran and the USA.
1980 Iraq invades Iran, beginning the eight-year long ‘Imposed War’. The Shah dies of cancer in exile in Egypt.
1981 The American hostages are released after 444 days.
1988 The ‘Imposed War’ ends with a UN-negotiated truce. Thousands of left wing dissidents are executed.
1989 Khomeini declares a fatwa on novelist Salman Rushdie in response to his book, The Satanic Verses. Khomeini dies. Khamenei is appointed Supreme Leader.
1995 The USA imposes sanctions over alleged sponsorship of terrorism.
1997 Reformist Khatami wins the presidential election in a landslide.
2001 Khatami wins a second term.
2002 Construction resumes on Iran’s first nuclear reactor. George Bush includes Iran in his ‘Axis of Evil’ speech.
2003 Populist radical Ahmadinejad wins the presidential election.
2009 Ahmadinejad wins a second term. The result is contested in the ‘Green Revolution’ protests. Protestors are beaten up, arrested, shot and killed.
2011 British Embassy in Tehran is attacked in protest over sanctions. Diplomatic ties are cut between UK and Iran.
2013 Rouhani is elected president. He speaks to President Obama – the first time American and Iranian leaders have communicated since 1979.
2015 The nuclear deal is agreed and international sanctions are to be lifted.
2016 Full diplomatic relations between the UK and Iran are reinstated.