Fresh Air How The 1979 Revolution Transformed Iran
47 snips
Aug 4, 2025 
Scott Anderson, a veteran war correspondent and author of 'King of Kings', dives into the transformative impact of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. He discusses how the U.S. failed to predict shifts in Iran’s political climate, highlighting critical missteps by American policymakers. The conversation reveals the tensions between the Shah and rising anti-regime sentiments, alongside the internal chaos within the Iranian military. Anderson emphasizes the lasting effects of the revolution on U.S.-Iran relations and the geopolitical landscape.
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Violent Protests in Washington DC 1977
- Scott Anderson witnessed violent protests during the Shah's 1977 visit to Washington, D.C.
- The tear gas used made Iranians interpret that the U.S. was distancing itself from the Shah.
Shah's Complex Rule
- The Shah tried to modernize Iran but ruled with political repression and centralized power.
- He balanced buying off elites with limited political opposition and repression of clerics.
Missionary Exposes Khomeini Early
- George Braswell, a Christian missionary, taught comparative religion at Tehran University in 1968.
- He discovered Khomeini’s revolutionary tapes early, but U.S. officials ignored his warnings.
