Culture is influenced by many different factors. Iran is no exception. Iran 's culture is affected by history, past conflicts, and religion. Iran, known as Persia until 1935, has a long and rich history (Iran in perspective, 2008). Early rulers of Iran were known as shahs who determined rules and policies. During the Qajar Dynasty, Shahs were seen as shadows of god and guardians of the flock. They exercised extensive authority over life, honor, and property. The Shah was the sole possessor of the right to give concessions, privileges, and even monopolies; what they granted they could also take away. The Shah would intervene in the economy occasionally: regulating production, prices, buying, selling, and stockpiling food. The shah’s word
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However, interests in the area take on more importance after World War II. During the cold war, The United States feared communist parties in Iran and took actions to prevent communist influence in the region. Such as training Iranian troops and supporting a coup. After the formation of the Islamic Iran Republic, tensions between the two countries grew. The U.S. had provided refuge to the recently overthrown shah. Fearing the act as a symbol of aggression towards Iran, the newly formed government encouraged the storming of the U.S. Embassy. A group of students led by militant clerics stormed the Embassy in Iran taking seventy U.S. citizens hostage. The United States made many attempts to recover the hostages all of which failed. In the end, the U.S. had to make a covert arms deal with Iran to have the hostages returned home (Iran in perspective, 2008). Despite the returning of the hostages, the relationship between Iran and the United States remained strained. Allegations of Iran sponsoring terrorism caused the U.S. to enforce extensive trade sanctions on the country. Along with the previously mentioned allegations, Iran’s nuclear programs made the country a target of more trade sanctions. Iran has received international objections over its nuclear program. Iran, however, stands strong that the nuclear program is peaceful in nature and will not discontinue enriching uranium (Iran in perspective,
However, interests in the area take on more importance after World War II. During the cold war, The United States feared communist parties in Iran and took actions to prevent communist influence in the region. Such as training Iranian troops and supporting a coup. After the formation of the Islamic Iran Republic, tensions between the two countries grew. The U.S. had provided refuge to the recently overthrown shah. Fearing the act as a symbol of aggression towards Iran, the newly formed government encouraged the storming of the U.S. Embassy. A group of students led by militant clerics stormed the Embassy in Iran taking seventy U.S. citizens hostage. The United States made many attempts to recover the hostages all of which failed. In the end, the U.S. had to make a covert arms deal with Iran to have the hostages returned home (Iran in perspective, 2008). Despite the returning of the hostages, the relationship between Iran and the United States remained strained. Allegations of Iran sponsoring terrorism caused the U.S. to enforce extensive trade sanctions on the country. Along with the previously mentioned allegations, Iran’s nuclear programs made the country a target of more trade sanctions. Iran has received international objections over its nuclear program. Iran, however, stands strong that the nuclear program is peaceful in nature and will not discontinue enriching uranium (Iran in perspective,