A Red Century

1978:

 * October 9, Ayatollah Khomeini was found dead at his residence in Paris under misterious circunstances.
 * December 2, attempts to gather protests in Azadi Square, Tehran, are violently repressed by the Shah's forces.

1979:

 * February 18, the situation of Iran degenerates into a civil war between government forces and islamic militants.
 * May 4, Margaret Thatcher is elected the Prime Minister of Great Britain.
 * June 18, Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnevs sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna.
 * July 16, Iraqui President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam Hussein replaces him.
 * July 19, Sandinist forces overthrow U.S. backed Somoza dictatorship.
 * December 24, Soviet troops invade Afghanistan.
 * December 27, the Soviets seize control of Afghanistan and Babrak Kermal is instated as President of the country.

1980:

 * January 4, U.S. President Jimmy Carter proclaims a grain embargo against the U.S.S.R. with the support of the European Commission.
 * January 26, Israel and Egypt establish diplomatic relations.
 * March 5, Islamic militants bombs the Iraqui embassy in Tehran leading Iraq to close it's borders with Iran.