Iran since 1979: A timeline of crises

Al JazeeraCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete January 13, 2026 at 08:06 AM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

Since the 1979 revolution that established the Islamic Republic, Iran has faced numerous internal and external crises. In 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini returned from exile, and the US imposed sanctions following the hostage crisis at the US embassy. The Iran-Iraq War, beginning in 1980, resulted in an estimated 500,000 deaths and saw the use of chemical weapons. In 1981, US hostages were released, but bombings targeted government officials, including President Rajai and Prime Minister Bahonar. These events, along with ongoing nuclear tensions, regional interventions, and political instability, have shaped Iran's identity over the past five decades. Recent protests highlight the ongoing challenges facing the country's governing system.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Islamic Republican Party 30% Mohammad Mosaddegh 40% Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK) 40% UK 40% Islamic Republic ×250% Mohammad Reza Pahlavi ×250% United States ×360% Tehran ×460% Iranian hostage crisis ×260% Iraq ×370% Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ×270% Iran ×990%

Keywords

iran 100% 1979 revolution 90% islamic republic 80% hostage crisis 70% protests 70% iran-iraq war 60% sanctions 60% ayatollah khomeini 50% nuclear tensions 50% political drama 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.30

Source Transparency

Source

Al Jazeera

Political Lean

Center (0.00)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Iran

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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iran 1979 revolution islamic republic hostage crisis protests iran-iraq war sanctions ayatollah khomeini nuclear tensions political drama

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