Poonam Sharma
Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran’s modern history has unfolded through a near-continuous cycle of upheaval, confrontation and survival. What began as a popular uprising against an autocratic monarch has evolved into a complex state defined by ideology, sanctions, wars and an enduring struggle over its place in the global order. To understand Iran today—its politics, its anxieties and its defiance—it is essential to trace the crises that have shaped its identity over the past five decades.
The Revolution That Changed Everything
The return of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in February 1979 marked a decisive rupture with Iran’s past. Months later, a referendum declared Iran an Islamic republic, dismantling the monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The revolution was not merely political; it was civilizational in ambition, seeking to fuse governance with Shiite Islamic principles. Almost immediately, Iran found itself in conflict with the United States. The seizure of American hostages at the US Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 triggered the first round of US sanctions, setting the tone for decades of hostility.
War and the Birth of a Security State
In September 1980, Iraq under Saddam Hussein invaded Iran, plunging the country into a brutal eight-year war. With an estimated half a million deaths, the Iran–Iraq War scarred an entire generation. Iran faced trench warfare reminiscent of World War I, chemical attacks by Iraqi forces, and near-total international isolation. The war hardened the revolutionary state, elevating the military and especially the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as pillars of national survival.
The conflict ended in 1988 with a UN-brokered ceasefire, but not before another trauma: the US Navy’s shooting down of Iran Air Flight 655, killing all 290 civilians aboard. For many Iranians, the incident reinforced a belief that global powers treated Iranian lives as expendable.
Internal Violence and Political Consolidation
The early 1980s were also marked by internal bloodshed. Bombings and assassinations killed senior officials, including President Mohammad-Ali Rajai and judiciary chief Mohammad Beheshti. The state blamed the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), a former revolutionary ally turned bitter enemy. These attacks accelerated the consolidation of power under clerical leadership and justified harsh crackdowns on dissent.
Following Khomeini’s death in 1989, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei became Supreme Leader—a position he still holds. His tenure has overseen both pragmatic engagement with the world and deep suspicion of foreign intentions.
Sanctions, Earthquakes and Regional Ambitions
The 1990s brought fresh challenges. A devastating earthquake in 1990 killed around 40,000 people, exposing infrastructural weaknesses. Meanwhile, the US expanded sanctions, accusing Iran of sponsoring terrorism and pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran, for its part, began asserting regional influence—supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon and later backing Shia groups in Iraq and Syria.
The 1998 killing of Iranian diplomats by the Taliban in Afghanistan nearly pushed Iran into another war, highlighting how regional instability repeatedly pulled Tehran toward the brink.
The Nuclear Question Takes Center Stage
The early 2000s marked a turning point. In 2002, US President George W Bush labeled Iran part of the “axis of evil.” A year later, the US invasion of Iraq dramatically altered regional power dynamics, indirectly expanding Iranian influence while deepening Western fears.
Iran’s nuclear programme became the central fault line. Despite Iran’s insistence that its ambitions were peaceful, the UN imposed multiple rounds of sanctions from 2006 onward. Cyberattacks, including malware targeting nuclear facilities, underscored how the conflict had entered new domains.
Sanctions took a severe toll. By 2012, the European Union had boycotted Iranian oil, the rial collapsed, and ordinary Iranians bore the brunt of economic isolation.
Hope, Then Disillusionment
In 2015, a breakthrough seemed possible. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), agreed with world powers, limited Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Celebrations erupted across Iran as citizens hoped for economic recovery and reintegration with the world.
That optimism proved fragile. In 2018, US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal, reimposing harsh sanctions. Trust collapsed, and Iran gradually rolled back its nuclear commitments, reigniting global tensions.
Assassinations, Protests and Open Conflict
The 2020 assassination of Qassem Soleimani by a US drone strike was a seismic moment, pushing Iran and the US perilously close to war. In the years that followed, Iran faced recurring protests, often driven by economic hardship and demands for political reform. The state accused foreign powers of fueling unrest, while critics accused the government of repression.
The mid-2020s escalated dramatically. High-profile assassinations—including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran—and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets culminated in a brief but deadly war in 2025, killing hundreds and confirming that long-simmering shadow conflicts could erupt into open warfare.
A Nation Still in Flux
Iran since 1979 is not merely a story of confrontation; it is also one of endurance. Earthquakes, wars, sanctions and political crises have repeatedly tested the state and its people. Yet Iran has survived, adapted and continued to assert its vision of sovereignty.
Today’s Iran remains deeply divided—between reform and resistance, engagement and defiance. But one truth is clear: the crises of the past five decades are not chapters left behind. They are living memories, shaping how Iran sees the world—and how the world responds to Iran.
