Iran

The Islamic Revolution and Aftermath

• 1978 November 27 - Millions celebrate throughout the country weeping and jumping at having seen Khomeini's face in the moon after rumour sweeps the land that the Imam's face will so appear on this night. Even Tudeh Party embraces the story. (Taheri p.238)

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• 1978 December 10-11 - Tasu'a and Ashura. As many as 17 million people "up and down the country march peacefully demanding the removal of the Shah and return of Khomeini." (Moin p.196) 17-point resolution is presented during the demo "declaring the Ayatollah to be the leader of the Iranian people," and calling on Iranians to struggle until the Shah is overthrown. (Graham p.238) U.S. Carter administration and Shah torn between supporting Iranian popular opinion and "tough line." (Moin p.196)

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• 1979 January 10 - Khomeini unveils plan to public saying: `according to religious right and based on the vote of the confidence by an absolute majority of the people in me [in the form of large December protest demonstrations], a council called the Islamic Revolutionary Council has been formed.` (Moin p.197)

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• 1979 January 12 - Khomeini sets up a "Council of Islamic Revoution with the task of establishing a transitional government. The names of its members ... not disclosed." (Arjomand p.134)

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• 1979 January 16 - Shah leaves country `on vacation,` never to return. (Moin p.198)

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• 1979 February 1 - Khomieni returns to Iran (Moin p.197) as "undisputed leader of one of the major revolutionary movements in modern history." (Moin p.199)

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• 1979 February 5 - Announcement of appointment of Mehdi Bazargan as provisional prime minister (in competition with Shah-appointed prime minister Bakhtiar) by Khomeini. Bazargan's moderate, democrat (but pious) reputation and demeanor "smooth the transition of power." Bazargan was charged with preparation of a referendum on an Islamic Republic to be followed by election of a Constituent Assembly (Moin p.203) `I hereby pronounce Bazargan as the Ruler, and since I have appointed him, he must be obeyed,` says Khomeini, proclaiming disobedience of `God's government ... a revolt against God. Revolt against God is blasphemy.` (Moin p.204)

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• 1979 February 7 - Large rallies "in support of Bazargan's premiership." Counter-rallies the next day by Bakhtiar very small, "further exposing his lost cause." (Moin p.205)

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• 1979 February 8 - "Hundreds of air force technicians descend upon [Khomeini's headquarters at] the Refah School to pledge an oath of allegiance to Khomeini." Imperial Guard `Immortals` attack air force bases. People's Fedaiyan and Mojahedin-e Khalq rush to their defense. Fighting spreads to the rest of Tehran. Police and army barracks attacked. Arsenals looted. (Moin p.198)

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• 1979 February 10 - Bakhtiar announces curfew in an "attempt to resist the inevitable." Khomeini instructed his followers to ignore it. Jihad to be proclaimed by Khomeini against any army units that do not surrender. (Moin p.205-6)

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• 1979 February 11 - Bakhtiar government collapses. To stop collapse of the military, Supreme Military Council declares itself "neutral in the current political disputes ... in order to prevent further disorder and bloodshed" and orders "all military personnel to return to base." Revolution triumphs over the military. Bakhtiar goes into hiding and flees country shortly thereafter. (Moin p.206)

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• 1979 February 15 - First Revolutionary Tribunals convene (in secret). (Mackey p.290) Executions of Shah's henchmen begin. "Four leading generals" tried and shot at Khomeini's headquarters at Refah School. (Moin p.207)

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• 1979 March 31 - referendum approved the establishment of an Islamic republic with Khomeini in de facto control. 97% vote yes.

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• 1979 April 7 - long-serving prime minister Amir Abbas Hoveida executed (shot), after being found a `doer of mischief on earth` (Mackey p.290), despite attempts of Bazargan's government and human rights lawyers to "organize a proper trial" for him. "Within a short period over 200 of the Shah's senior officials followed Hoveida to their graves." (Moin p.208)

• 1979 February-December - Revolutionary Islamic groups take the stage: Islamic Revolutionary Party, Hezbollah, Komitehs, Revolutionary Guards. They ensure supremacy of clerical rule by outmaneuvering, intimidating, physically attacking opponents and "undesirable allies." (Moin p.210-2)

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• 1979 March 1 - Warning that democracy is not in the cards. Khomeini returns to Qom. Addressing a great crowd he proclaims: `What the nation wants is an Islamic republic: not just a republic, not a democratic republic, not a democratic Islamic republic. Do not use this term, `democratic.` That is the Western style.`" (p.73 The Reign of the Ayatollahs by Shaul Bakhash)
  Move to Qom from Tehran in theory means he surrenders control over day-to-day decision making back in Tehran. In practice it means the power center moves to Qom were non-clerics have little access to power. Another proclamation: "Western laws must be abolished and replaced with Islamic law. We will uproot all Western cultural influence ..." (Moin p.215)

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• 1979 March (early) - Beginning of Islamization of government. Khomeini directs "the Minister of Justice to eliminate from the Family Protection Act any passages contradicting Islamic principles." (Benard/Khalilzad p.98)

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• 1979 Spring, late - Exclusion of other elements from power by Revolutionary Council and Islamic Republican Party "begins to show." Becomes clear Bazargan has little power compared to shadow government of Khomeini, Revolutionary Council. (Moin p.215)

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• 1979 April - Complaints against hegemony of Islamic Republican Party and power of revolutionary courts from Ayatollah Taeqani, Karim Sanjabi, Ayatollah Shari'atmadari, Qomi and many other. (Moin p.210-2)

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• 1979 June 5 - Warning to Intellectuals to piss off. Khomeini proclaims `Who are they that wish to divert our Islamic movement from Islam? ... It was the mosques that created this Revolution, the mosques that brought this movement into being ... Intellectuals, do not be Western-style intellectuals, imported intellectuals,; do your share to preserve the mosques.` (Arjomand p.137)

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• 1979 June 14 - Official preliminary draft of the constitution published. (Schirazi p.24) Draft constitution contains Council of Guardians to veto unIslamic legislation, but no Velayat-e faqih. Khomeini declares it `correct.` (Moin p.217)

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• 1979 June 15 - At the same time he supports the draft constitution Khomeini declares liberal and leftwing groups advocating a Constituent Assembly to be `counter-revolutionaries` against Islam. "No `Westernised jurists` are needed, only `noble members of the clergy.`" (Moin p.217) "Campaign launched to popularised the idea of the velayat-e faqih," hitherto virtually unknown to most Iranians. (Moin p.218)

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• 1979 June 18 - Khomeini turns on Islamic moderates/democratics, denounced them as enemies of Islam. [Kayhan 18.6.79 from Schirazi]

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• 1979 Summer - New party, the National Democratic Front of Iran, launched as opposition to Khomeini regime. Supports Constituent Assembly and free press. Draws large crowds which are "ferociously attacked by gangs of Hezbollahi toughs." (Moin p.218)

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• 1979 Summer - First Assembly of Experts elected. Vote boycotted by opponents. "Vote-rigging, violence against undesirable candidates and the dissemination of false information used to produce an assembly overwhelmingly dominated by clergy loyal to Khomeini." (Moin p.218)

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• 1979 August 7 - Ayandegan, "the daily newspaper with the widest circulation, which had agitated against Velayat-e faqih" is banned under new press law for "counter-revolutionary policies and acts." Assembly of Experts begins deliberations. (Kayhan, 20.8.78-21.8.78,` quoted in Schirazi p.51) (New York Times)

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• 1979 August 8 - demonstrators gather in Tehran to protest closing of Ayandegan. In the next three days 41 newspapers and periodicals are prohibited. (Kayhan 20.8.78-21.8.78, quoted in Schirazi p.51)

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• 1979 August 10 - Khomeini tells Assembly of Experts delegates those who campaigned against the Assembly of Experts and in defence of Ayandegan newspaper are `wild animals. We will not tolerate them any more... After each revolution several thousand of these corrupt elements are executed in public and burnt and the story is over. They are not allowed to publish newspapers. ... We will close all parties except the one, or a few which act in a proper manner ... we all made mistakes. we thought we were dealing with human beings. It is evident we are not.` (Moin p.219)

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• 1979 August 12 - More demonstrations. National Democratic Front schedules a mass demonstration to protest the closure of newspapers like Ayandegan. Demonstration is "viciously attacked by Hebollah thugs." (Moin p.219-20) Hundreds are injured by rocks, clubs, chains and iron bars. The next day Khomeini supporters attack and loot offices of leftist groups in retaliation for demonstrations. (New York Times)

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• 1979 August, mid to late - End of peaceful resistance to Khomeini's Islamization. Warrant issued for arrest of Hedayat Matin Daftari, one of the National Democratic Front's leaders. 26 major newspapers and magazines closed. Hezbollah attacks office of People's Feda'iyan. (Moin p.219-20)

• 1979 October 14 - Assembly of Experts approves Khomeini as the vali-ye faqih with "command of the armed forces and veto power over all candidates for the Majlis and the presidency." Referendum approving this to come. (Mackey p.293)

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• 1979 October (date ?, probably same as above) - Assembly of Experts produces theocratic new constitution including velayt-e faqih position. Now that the National Democratic Front has been crushed the constitution faces strong opposition from People's Mohahedin, People's Feda'iyan, ethnic minorities, Shari'atmadari's Muslim People's Republican Party. (Moin p.226)

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• 1979 October 22 - Cancer ridden Shah allowed to United States for medical treatment. Khomeini furious at this "evidence of American plotting." Heightens rhetoric against `Great Satan.` (Moin p.220)

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• 1979 November 1 - Prime Minister Bazargan photo-ed shaking hands with Zbigniew Brzezinski at meeting in Algeria. (Radical) Iranian media eager to attack moderates alerts the "nation of the return of American influence." (Moin p.221)

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• 1979 November 4 - Iranian militants seize the U.S. embassy in Tehran and hold 66 occupants hostage, demanding the return of the shah from the U.S. Khomeini waits a few days to see if moderate Iranians or the U.S. will do anything to stop them, then supports hostage-takers. 52 hostages held for 444 days. (Moin p.221)

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• 1979 November 6 - Bazargan offers his resignation, "unable to muster" support for "eviction of the students." Khomeini immediately accepts. (Moin p.221)

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• 1979 November - Hostage crisis divides opposition. Leftist guerilla organizations abandon fight against Khomeini's new theocratic constitution to side with the anti-imperialist assertiveness of hostage-taking. Referendum scheduled for Dec. 3. (Moin p.227)

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• 1979 November - Anti-theocratic opposition now rallies behind Grand Ayatollah Shari'atmadari and a few other clerical opponents of Khomeini (Ayatollah Reza Zanjani and Qomi.) (Moin p.229)

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• 1979 November - Attacks by state-controlled media on MPRP and Shari'atmadari. Riots in Shari'atmadari's Azeri home region. Demonstrations and counter-demonstrations. (Moin p.231)

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• 1979 December 3 - Referendum of new constitution passes with massive endorsement but much lower turnout because of boycott. Khomeini becomes vali-ye faqih (Moin p.232)

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• 1979 December 6 - Khomeini meets with Shari'atmadari and delivers "what appears to have been an ultimatum." (Moin p.231)

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• 1980 January - Many of Shari'atmadari aides put under house arrest in Qom. Muslim People's Republican Party no longer a player. (Moin p.232)

• 1980 January - Presidential election. Mujahedin-e Khalq finally breaks with Khomeini after its leader Masoud Rajavi is barred from running for president by Supreme Leader Khomeini. (Mackey p.304)

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• 1980 February 4 - Bani Sadr (one of Khomeini's three vizers while in France) receives Khomeini's confirmation following his (Bani Sadr's) election as president. Appoints Bani-Sadr Commander-in-Chief. Bani-Sadr is immediately beset by mullahs undermining his power. Confusion over the constitutional role of the president and opposition by "shrewd mullahs" of the IRP. Khomeini takes neutral stance towards Bani Sadr. Appoints Ayatollah Behesti as chief justice to proceed with "Islamisation of the law." (Moin p.233-4)

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• 1980 March 21 - Cultural revolution begins. In New Year's speech, Khomeini inveighs against `imperialist universities` where those `cloaked with the West` teach and study. `The universities must become Islamic.` (Benard/Khalilzad p.116)

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• 1980 March-May - First and second rounds of Parliamentary elections. Islamic Republican Party mobilises "network among clergy, komitehs and the revolutionary guard." Hezbollah attacks rallies and offices of opposition parties (mostly the Mojahedin-e Khalq, as they are nearly the only opposition group left standing). The Mohahedin-e Khalq - erstwhile revolutionary allies against the Shah - are attacked by Khomeini as elteqati (eclectic), contaminated with Gharbzadeqi ("the Western plague"), and as monafeqin (hypocrits) and kafer (unbelievers) (Moin p.234, 239)

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• 1980 April 24 - Hostage rescue attempt by US military fails after sandstorm causes crash of helicopter into C-130 transport plane killing 8 servicemen. Khomeini credits divine intervention on behalf of Islam. His prestige is greatly enhanced as "Bani-Sadr simply could not compete with God." (Mackey p.298)

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• 1980 May - Parliamentary elections results show clergy dominating parliament. Islamic Republican Party has 85 members, but far more influence. Bani Sadr has "no more than a handful of supporters among the deputies." No Mohahedin-e Khalq candidates elected. Widespread accusations of election malpractice. (Moin p.234)

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• 1980 July - Purge of Westernized elements in the state bureaucracy begins. "Some 20,000 teachers and nearly 8000 officers were discharged." (Arjomand p.144)

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• 1980 July 27 - Shah dies of cancer.

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• 1980 August - Bani Sadr forced to accept IRP-oriented prime minister he declares "incompetent," Ali Raja'i. (In theory, Iran's president is supposed to appoint the prime minister). (Moin p.234-5)

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• 1980 September 22 - Iraq invades Iran. Bani Sadr/IRP disputes continue. Bani Sadr commands regular army. Revolutionary Guards take orders from clerics. (Moin p.235)

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• 1980 Nov. Dec.(?) - Mohahedin-e Khalq leadership "virtually driven underground" by its vigorous campaign against the government on all fronts. (Moin p.239)

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• 1981 January - Muslim People's Republican Party (Hezb-e Jomhuri-ye Khalq-e Mosalman) banned. (Schrazi p.125)

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• 1981 January 20 - U.S. Embassy hostages freed just before the inauguration of a new, more hard line U.S. president (Reagan) soon to be inaugurated.

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• 1981 March 5 - Rally led by Bani Sadr to commemorate death of Mosaddeq. Protected by People's Mojahedin who disarm Hezbollah thugs and find IRP membership cards in their pockets. Bani Sadr now rallying point "for all doubters and dissidents" of the theocracy, including People's Mojahedin. (Moin p.238)

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• 1981 March 15 - Meeting called by Khomeini to attempt a reconciliation between Bani-Sadr and IRP leaders. (Bakhash p.153)

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• 1981 Spring - Major media battle between Bani Sadr's Enqelab-e Islami and IRP-controlled media. (Moin p.237)

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• 1981 June 8 - Bani Sadr calls for "resistance to dictatorship" in speech at air base. Khomeini counters with speech declaring that street demonstrations in opposition to the law are a dictatorial act. Bani Sadr counters accusing Khomeini of trying to destroy the country by refusing to allow "a competent government to introduce modern and democratic policies." (Moin p.239-40)

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• 1981 June 10 - Bani Sadr stripped of title of commander-in-chief of the armed forces by Khomeini. (Moin p.240)

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• 1981 June 15 - Big Rally planned by National Front to unite Bani Sadr, the moderates and left against Khomeini, IRP and their terrorizing of the opposition. Rally flops after threatening last minute speech by Khomeini and show of force by Islamist forces in rally square. (Bakhash p.158-9)

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• 1981 June 20 - Majlis to vote to impeach Bani Sadr. All opposition groups (except the Tudeh Party and majority faction of the Feda'iyan Khalq) take to the streets to march against dictatorship. As many as 500,000 march in Tehran. Protestors attacked by Hezbollah armed with chains and sticks. Shoot out between guerillas and Revolutionary Guard. 20 killed. A thousand arrested. (Moin p.240)

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• 1981 June 21 - Majlis votes to impeach Bani Sadr 177 to 1. In secret hideout Bani Sadr issues call for mass uprising. More than 50 opponents of the religious leadership killed in the streets and prisons. Wave of sympathy for Mojahedin. (Moin p.240) Mojahedin begins doomed armed struggle against Khomeinists. (Keddie p.253)

• 1981 June 28 - Large bomb blows up Islamic Republican Party headquarters killing 70, including Beheshti, four cabinet ministers and 25 deputees of parliament. Country stunned. Mojahedin blamed, does not claim or deny responsibility. All-out war waged against them, National Front and other opposition groups. Execution of opposition figures in prison stepped up. (Moin p.241-2) (Keddie p.253)

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• 1981 July (mid) - Bani Sadr escapes to Paris. (Moin p.243)

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• 1981 June 21-Dec - Represssion intensifies. 2,946 executions in the 12 months following Bani-Sadr's impeachment. (Bakhash, p.221-222)

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• 1981 July 6 - Mojahedin assassinates Hojjat al-Islam Shari'ati-Fard in Gilan. (Moin p.242)

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• 1981 August 4 - Mojahedin assassinates Dr. Hassan Ayat in Tehran. (Moin p.242)

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• 1981 August 30 - Bomb attributed to the Mojahedin assassinates President Mohammad ali Raja'i and recently appointed prime minister Mohammad Javad Bahonar. (Moin p.242)

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• 1981 Sept 5 - chief public prosecutor announces that the "Islamic ordinances will be applied to small groups" ("small groups" being the regime's name for opposition organisations) (Scharzi p.127)

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• 1981 September 11 - Mojahedin assassinates Ayatollah Madani in Tabriz. (Moin p.242)

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• 1981 September 29 - Mojahedin assassinates Hojjat al-Islam A.K. Hasemi-Nejad in Mashhad. (Moin p.242)

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• 1981 June-Dec. - Amnesty International estimates 2500 executions of political dissidents by Islamic Republican government. (Moin p.242)

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• 1982 (early) - Mojahedin commander Musa Khiabani killed and his hideout destroyed in Tehran. Mojahedin threat wanes. (Moin p.243) and Khomeinists are strengthened. (Keddie p.253)

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• 1982 January - Leftist group Communist League, takes over "the small northern city of Amol." Is "quickly" retaken by the government. Most of the Communist League leaders "captured and executed." (Keddie p.254)
• 1982 Spring - Plot by former supporter Qotzadeh and "up to 70 army officers" to assassinate Khomeini uncovered. Ayatollah Shari'atmadari implicated and is `defrocked` and forced to make public repentance on television. "Unprecedented intervention" in Shi'i religious institution. (Moin p.252)
• 1982 Summer - Government launches "major assault" against "Kurdish rebel-held territory" in the north. Several non-Kurdish leftist groups had joined the Kurdish Democratic Party in the north and the KDP had joined the National Council of Resistance. But the government recaptures "virtually all" KDP territory within a year and a half. (Keddie p.254)
• 1984 July - Iranian Government completes reconquest of Kurdish territory. KDP driven into Iraq. Only surviving leftist groups in Iran are the pro-government Kudeh party and "Feda'iyan majority" (Keddie p.254)

• 1981 October 2 - Hojjat al-Islam Ali Khamene'i elected as the third president of the Islamic Republic (Mackey p.307)

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• 1981 October 20 - Hojjat al-Islam Ali Khamene'i takes over as the third president of the Islamic Republic (Moin p.245)

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• 1981 - Khomeini encourages mollahs to come forward and take over key positions in the government and the civil service: `Islam is a religio-political faith. Its worship contains politics and its political affairs contain worship.` (Moin p.245)

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• 1982 April - Shari'atmadari "demoted" from the rank of Grand Ayatollah. In "move unprecedented in Shi'ite history, 17 of the 45 professors of the Qom theological seminaries were prevailed upon to issue a declaration `demoting` Shari'atmadari" (Arjomand, p.156)

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• 1982 May-June - Pro-Shari'atmadari `ulama purged.. "Leading pro-Khomeini clerics ... purge ... pro-Shari'atmadari `ulama and of other `pseudo-clerics` reluctant to accept the Velayat-e Faqih. The Society of Militant Clergy was put in charge of confirming the true clerics." (Arjomand, p.156)

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• 1982 December 15 - Khomeini makes 8-point decree effectively instructing the courts to ensure that people's rights and the due process of Islamic law". Hezbollah brought under control temporarily. (Taheri p.289)

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• 1985 November - Khomeini's successor named. Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri named deputy Velyat-e Faqih (Moin p.262)

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• 1987 Islamic revolutionary Party disolved. In part because of factional infighting between populists and conservatives, inpart because it has "hadly any role" and does "almost nothing" now that all its non-Khomeinist rivals have been eliminated. (Keddie p.260)

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• 1987 December - Overriding Islamic Shari'ah law. Khomeini authorizes the government to punish hoarders without going to court. Introduces a bill cutting off essential services from companies which do not pay their taxes. Is challenged by the Guardian Council. Khomeini decrees the Islamic Government of Iran is the continuation of prophecy and Islamic rule pioneered by the Prophet. (Moin p.259)

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• 1988 January 1 - In a Jumu'ah Khutbah, President Ali Khamene'i suggests Khomeini meant that the government should act within the rules of Islam. (Moin p.260)

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• 1988 January 7 - Khomeini sternly corrects Khamene'i. `Islamic government, which stems from the absolute velayat ... is one of the primary injunctions in Islam, taking precedence over all subsidiary precepts, even praying, fasting and performing the Haj...` (Brumberg, p.135-6)

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• 1989 January - Khomeini sends letter to Soviet leader Mikhael Gorbachev inviting him to Islam (thus following in the footsteps of the Prophet (SAW) and the letters sent to emperors of Byzantium, Ethiopia and Persia). Letters advise Gorbachev to study Islam, specifically the works of Ibn Arabi, Avicenna and Sohravardi, all famous mystical philosophers. Orthodox ulema attacks Khomeini's (unorthodox) choice of suggested reading. Khomeini replies with an attack of `stupid reactionary mollahs` in a television address a few weeks later. (Moin p.275-6) ( p.260)

• 1979 June 8 - Banking system nationalized. (Mackey p.340)

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• 1979 June 25 - Privately owned insurance companies nationalized. (Mackey p.340)

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• 1979 July 5 - Sweeping nationalization measure: "Law for the Protection and Expansion of Iranian Industry" passed. Included most of the privately industry and much of the businesses (Mackey p.340)

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• 1980 June - Dwellings left empty by fleeing owners seized by government. (Mackey p.340)

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• 1980 April - Revolutionary Council approves sweeping land reform law. (Mackey p.342)

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• 1980 November - Vali-e Faqih Ayatollah Khomeini suspends land reform. (Mackey p.342)

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• 1983 August - interst-free banking bill approved, "though, as elsewhere in the Musilm world, the system then established" does "not bring much change." (Keddie p.257)

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• 1987 June - Islamic Republic Party (a big supporter of state control of the economy) is disbanded by Vali-e Faqih Khomeini. (Mackey p.348)

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• 1992 March - Protest by disabled war veterans against the mismanagement of the Foundation of the Disinherited. (Mackey p.361)

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• 1992 May 30 - Protest by squatters against demolition of shantytowns in Mashhad. Government buildings set fire, including city's main library with rare Qur'ans. (Mackey p.361) Protests brutally suppressed (Keddie p.267)

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• 1993 January - Mob attacks on grocery stores in protest against rise in subsidized milk prices. (Mackey p.362)

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• 1994 March - Reduction or elimination of subsidies to state-run services begins. Price increase: telecommunications 60%, gas 100%, electricity at plants and factories 300%. (Mackey p.365)

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• 1995 April - Akbarabad shantytown on the edge of Tehran explodes in protest over bus fare increases. 30 people die. (Mackey p.366)
• 1995 April - total U.S. embargo on dealings with Iran imposed by Clinton after "pressure from Congress and the pro-Israeli lobby. Trade with the U.S., which had been growing following the end of the Iran-Iraq war ends abruptly. (Keddie p.265)

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• 1995 Summer - Foreign debt at $40 billion. Average per capita income 1/4 that of 1979. Rafsanjani calls for wider use of Muta (termporary marriage) since few can afford permanent marriage. (Mackey p.366)

• 1979 July - Saddam Hussein officially takes over presidency of Iraq. Ayatollah Khomeini goes on Tehran Radio to describe him (Saddam) as `a puppet of Satan.` (Mackey p.317)

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• 1980 April 8 - Broadcast call by Khomeini for the pious of Iraq to overthrow Saddam and his regime. Al-Dawa al-Islamiya party in Iraqi is the hoped for catalyst to start rebellion. (Mackey p.317)

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• 1980 September 22 - Iraq invades Iran. Invading force bogs down after small territorial gain.(Moin p.235)

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• 1981 September - Iran counter attacks. Iraqi siege of Abadan, site of key oil installation, broken. (Moin p.248)

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• 1982 May - Khorramshahr, the country's main port, is recaptured by Iran. (Moin p.248)

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• 1982 June - Ba'ath Party Revolutionary Command Council meets in Baghdad and issues peace offer to Iran. Offer is rejected by Khomeini. (Bulloch p.xvi)

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• 1982 July (mid) - Iranian forces turn the tables and launch their first invasion of Iraq itself. Human waves of Basij volunteers between ages of 10 and 16 used to clear Iraqi minefields. Khomeini calls the war `God's hidden gift.` (Moin p.249, 51)

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• 1983 February - Tudeh (Communist) party, the last remaining secular, non-Khomeinist political group, crushed following its failure to support Khomeini's war against Iraq (an ally of the Soviet Union, the leading Communist state). Members accused of "treason, espionage and conspiracy." Party disbanded. (Schirazi p.127)

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• 1984 - "War of the Cities" missile attacks between Iran and Iraq. Tehran not hit. (Moin p.267)

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• 1985 - Conditions in Iran worsen. Materiel from Shah's depots has run out. Inflation at 35%. Government's refusal to negotiate becomes increasingly unpopular. (Mackey p.325)

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• 1985 April 10 - Anti-government demonstrations break out in Aban district of Tehran. Spread to other districts and cities. Are crushed by vigilantes within two weeks. (Mackey p.325)

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• 1986 February 11 - Fao Peninsula captured at the cost of thousands of lives putting Iran within 50 miles of Basra. Biggest Iranian victory since the recapture of Khorramshahr in 1982. First capture of a sizeable amount of Iraqi territory. Still no negotiation with Iraq. (Mackey p.327)

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• 1986 November 3 - Iran Contra arms dealing makes headlines. President Hashemi Rafsanjani embarrassed. (Mackey p.327)

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• 1987 - Domestic conditions in Iran worsen. Cost of low-grade beef reaches $14/lbs. Unemployment reaches almost 40%. (Mackey p.330)

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• 1987 March - U.S. agrees to protect Kuwaiti tankers against Iran by reflagging and escorting them. (Keddie p.259)

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• 1987 July - UN Security Council passes Resolution 598 calling for a cease-fire; Iraq accepts, Iran does not respond. (Keddie p.259)

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• 1987 September - U.S. destroys first of a number of Iranian ships and oil platforms, "partly in response to Iranian attacks on U.S.-flagged ships." (Keddie p.259)

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• 1988 January - Mounting economic problems, and progressive demoralisation among the both Iranian troops and civilians. Soldier deserting the war front. Conscription period increased. International black market for arms (which Iran is dependent on) tightens. (Moin p.267)

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• 1988 February 28 - Iraqi Scud missile attacks on Tehran begin. An estimated quarter of the population leaves the capital during month-long attacks. (Moin p.267)

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• 1988 April 18 - Chemical attacks by Iraqis drive Iranian troops from the "dearly won" Faw peninsula. American navy blows up two Iranian oil rigs, destroys a frigate, sinks a missile boat. (Moin p.268)

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• 1988 July 3 - Iranian Air flight shot down by American warship. 290 civilians killed. Shooting is a mistake but a "reckless" one "in view of the information available to the captain." (Keddie p.259) Iranian public reacts more with despair and helplessness than outrage. (Moin p.269)

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• 1988 July 18 - Ceasefire. Iran announces it will unconditionally accept United Nations Security Council resolution 598. Massive psychological shock to Iranians after enormous sacrifices of the war. (Moin p.269)

Timeline: Iran A chronology of key events:
BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/806268.stm

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