Iran History

1921-25--Reza Khan, a soldier born in a village who rose to command of Persia's major military unit, overthrows government. Later, he forces Qajar Dynasty ruler, Ahmed Shah, to abdicate. Reza Khan becomes shah, or king, changing family name to Pahlavi and calling himself Reza Shah. Changes Persia's name to Iran. 1939-44--Reza Shah flirts with Nazi Germany. British, Soviets invade, force him to abdicate. His son, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi ascends to Peacock Throne in 1941.

When weighing a response to an international crisis, a U.S. president defines American interests, examines the political landscape and selects from a menu of generally imperfect options ranging from war to prudent inaction. In the case of Iran, President Obama has rightly determined that it is in the U.S.

School bells rang and helicopters showered flowers on the tomb of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini on Monday as Iran marked the 20th anniversary of his return from exile. The bells--along with whistles from trains and ships at port--were sounded at 9:33 a.m., the moment the supreme leader's jet touched down in Tehran on Feb. 1, 1979. Helicopters also dropped flowers on Khomeini's golden-domed tomb inside a sprawling cemetery. After returning from 15 years of exile, Khomeini overthrew the U.S.

School bells rang and helicopters showered flowers on the tomb of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini on Monday as Iran marked the 20th anniversary of his return from exile. The bells--along with whistles from trains and ships at port--were sounded at 9:33 a.m., the moment the supreme leader's jet touched down in Tehran on Feb. 1, 1979. Helicopters also dropped flowers on Khomeini's golden-domed tomb inside a sprawling cemetery. After returning from 15 years of exile, Khomeini overthrew the U.S.

For Barry Rosen, the decision was his toughest in nearly 20 years. Should he come face to face with a man who held him and 51 other Americans hostage in Iran for 444 agonizing days as mobs chanted "Death to America!" outside? Rosen, former press officer--and captive--at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, decided that it was time. For two hours Friday, he shared a speaker's platform with Abbas Abdi, onetime Iranian revolutionary student leader and a mastermind of the 1979 embassy takeover.

When weighing a response to an international crisis, a U.S. president defines American interests, examines the political landscape and selects from a menu of generally imperfect options ranging from war to prudent inaction. In the case of Iran, President Obama has rightly determined that it is in the U.S.

It started small -- a few babies named after the pre-Islamic heroes Darius or Cyrus, a bit more government money for preserving ancient sites, advertisers using the image of the ruins of Persepolis to sell salad dressing and motorbikes. Now comes modern Iran's most audacious salute yet to a Persian past that Islamic fundamentalists would rather forget.

It was the most glorious day in Iran's history--even bigger than taking American hostages after the revolution. The Iranian soccer team beat the United States, 2-1, in the World Cup. According to reports, people in Tehran went crazy, shooting off guns and fireworks and honking their horns. For most countries, winning in World Cup soccer is the next best thing to fighting in a war. Fortunately, not many people in the United States give a damn.

The Beverly Hills Library celebrated Persian New Year recently with a gala party. On hand to celebrate March 19 were more than 150 people from the community and numerous city officials. But the highlight of the evening was Beverly Hills resident Massood Haroonian's presentation of a collection of Persian books. The formal presentation coincided with Persian New Year, also known as "Now Rooz," which is held each year on the eve of the vernal equinox.

PRESIDENT BUSH HAS MADE A U-TURN on Iran -- and not a moment too soon. Just as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was about to get on a plane to Vienna for talks on Iran, she announced a courageous and historic about-face that offers hope of ending the hostility that has marked U.S. relations with Iran since 1979. That said, the chances of negotiating a verifiable, permanent end to Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program are slim.

For Barry Rosen, the decision was his toughest in nearly 20 years. Should he come face to face with a man who held him and 51 other Americans hostage in Iran for 444 agonizing days as mobs chanted "Death to America!" outside? Rosen, former press officer--and captive--at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, decided that it was time. For two hours Friday, he shared a speaker's platform with Abbas Abdi, onetime Iranian revolutionary student leader and a mastermind of the 1979 embassy takeover.

1921-25--Reza Khan, a soldier born in a village who rose to command of Persia's major military unit, overthrows government. Later, he forces Qajar Dynasty ruler, Ahmed Shah, to abdicate. Reza Khan becomes shah, or king, changing family name to Pahlavi and calling himself Reza Shah. Changes Persia's name to Iran. 1939-44--Reza Shah flirts with Nazi Germany. British, Soviets invade, force him to abdicate. His son, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi ascends to Peacock Throne in 1941.

Re "Iran's threat, Bush's dilemma," Opinion, Jan. 25 The war in Iraq has led to many repercussions for the United States. Max Boot points out another issue, one that was initially an intangible, which he calls "Bush's dilemma." Because of the consequences over Iraq, we find ourselves fettered to a post in the face of real danger -- a nuclear-armed Iran. We cannot expect Israel to save us from an Iranian threat because the Islamic world knows that the U.S. is the big brother standing a short distance away.

World War I saw the first use of chemical agents, and they were used in several conflicts through the 1930s. Although chemical weapons were not used in World War II, their use was suspected in Southeast Asia and Afghanistan in the early 1980s--and confirmed during the 8-year Iran-Iraq War. PREVENTION AND CLEANUP: U.S. soldiers are well prepared for chemical attack. They wear both a gas mask and hood which protect the wearer' head and neck.