Question

How do Iranians tend to view the U.S. role in Iran prior to 1979? a. As a modernizing force that helped create the infrastructure of modern Iran. b. As foreign interventionists involved in their country. c. As enemies of the Soviet Union, and thus there only for Cold War interests. d. As pro-democracy supporters who want to spread their views on other peoples.

Answer 1

Iranians generally view the U.S. role in Iran prior to 1979 as foreign interventionist, supporting an oppressive regime for strategic interests and contributing to a lack of democracy, which fostered resentment and anti-American sentiment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Iranians tend to view the U.S. role in Iran prior to 1979 with a great deal of skepticism and resentment. The U.S. support of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi through funds and weapons was seen as a way of sustaining a regime that suppressed political freedom and utilized a feared secret police force, SAVAK, to silence dissidents. Additionally, many Iranians felt that the wealth of the nation, greatly derived from oil revenues, was misappropriated, favoring the Shah and his close associates, rather than being equitably distributed among the people.

The Shah's modernization efforts, which were aligned with Western values, such as granting women the right to vote and equal opportunities for education, were also met with hostility by traditionalist Muslim religious leaders. Ultimately, most Iranians saw the U.S. as a foreign intervenor backing an oppressive regime and bearing a significant responsibility for the lack of democracy in Iran, leading to the anti-American sentiments encapsulated in the 1979 Islamic Revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini.