Persia’s Shadow: Iran at a Crossroads of History |
Iran’s confrontation with the West is usually told as a modern political story. In reality, it is the latest chapter in a struggle shaped by empire, faith, and a century of unfinished reckonings.
We know Iran is primarily referred to as Persia in the Bible, appearing in later books such as Esther, Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Other biblical names for regions within modern Iran include Elam (southwestern Iran) and Media (northwestern Iran). Scripture portrays this land as a significant world power—one that, under leaders like Cyrus the Great, showed favor toward the Jewish people and figures prominently in prophetic visions concerning the end times.
But what about now—the last century? How did Persia become modern Iran, and how did it arrive at this critical juncture in history?
In 1921, Reza Khan, later known as Reza Shah Pahlavi, led a military coup and seized power in Iran. He was formally crowned shah in 1925 and pursued an aggressive program of modernization and secularization. During World War II, however, his refusal to expel German nationals raised Allied suspicions. In 1941, British, Soviet, and U.S. forces invaded Iran to secure a vital supply route for American war aid to the Soviet Union. Reza Shah was forced to abdicate in favor of his son, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.
Mohammad Reza Shah ruled Iran until the 1979 revolution. His “White Revolution” of the 1960s introduced moderate reforms, but the unequal distribution of oil wealth alienated large segments of the population. Muslim clergy strongly criticized his pro-Western orientation and close ties to Washington. By the 1970s, mounting unrest led the shah to rely increasingly on SAVAK, his feared secret........