"Iranians are not fundamentalists! We refuse to conform to this radical Islam and lose our freedom!" -Ebi Satrapi
Point of Divergence: April 12, 1980. Unhappy Iranians revolt across the country to oust Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini from power in Iran.
February 11 1979: The Islamic Revolution ends with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini assuming total power over Iran, though he is almost assassinated by Republican assassins.
April 1: Following a referendum 50.2% of Iran's populous votes to establish the Islamic Republic of Iran. The other 49.8% of Iran is outraged and begins rioting.
April 17: The Iranian police clash with rioters at Isafan, resulting in 600 dead protesters. The riots only heat up from here.
May 4: The National Republicans are formed in direct opposition to the new government. This new party begins receiving arms from America and Iraq. Founded by Esafan Parsa, this group aims for the total overthrow of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and the establishment of a proper republic.
May 10: 100 protesters are slaughtered by government forces in Qom.
May 18: 400 more protesters are killed by police, while 200 more are beaten in the streets of Tehran itself.
(For the next two months this process continues until protester fatalities surpass 3500)
July 6: The National Republicans rise up across the country, declaring war on the state, beginning the Iranian civil war.
July 10: America and Iraq confidentially organize arms shipping through Bandar Abbas.
July 16: The Iranian government launches a huge offensive into the rebel controlled mountains.
July 23: Battle of Kerman. The rebels rout the Islamic forces, leading to an officer purge in Iran by Khomeini.
August 19: Battle of Zahedan. The rebels are defeated by Islamic forces supported by Pakistan.
September 11: Battle of Isafan. A inconclusive battle leads to a stalemate and stagnation across the line.
Military situation, September 1979
February 8, 1980: After months of stalemate, the rebels launch an attack into Khuzestan, though this attempt fails.
April 16: The Khur offensive begins as rebel troops march towards Mashad, winning victory after victory against poorly trained child soldiers.
April 30: Tabas falls.
May 7: Gonabad falls.
May 15: Neyshabur falls, the siege of Mashad begins.
May 19: Second Khuzestan offensive begins and fails.
May 30: Islamic forces capture Yasuj, diverting some rebel support to Shiraz.
June 9: Mashad falls in a glorious victory for the rebels. They begin receiving weaponry from the Soviet Union.
June 18: First battle of Shiraz. Victory for the rebels which prevents the government from discovering their weapons lease from America and Iraq.
July 1: Second Battle of Zahedan. Again, Islamic forces repel three rebel assaults, with help from Pakistani forces. Pakistan considers joining the war on behalf of Khomeini.
July 20: Second Battle of Shiraz. Rebel victory
August 13: Northwest Offensive begins to take the rebel position at Tabriz.
August 24-October 11: Battle of Tabriz. This brutal battle pits 49,000 rebels against 400,000 Islamic troops.
August 26: Esafan Parsa requests Iraq officially enter the war on their side in exchange for Khuzestan. Saddam Hussein replies to hold out until the 22nd of September. Rebel troops dig in across the line, deceiving their enemies into launching attacks.
September 22-23: 200,000 Iraqi troops cross into Khuzestan, taking the Iranian government by surprise. Airstrikes destroy the Iranian government Air Force.
September 27: Dezful and Abadan fall to Iraqi forces as MIGS bomb Tehran. Rebel troops recapture Yasuj and launch a third offensive to take Zahedan.
October 2-4: Third Battle of Zahedan. The rebels finally capture Zahedan, after Pakistan abandoned support of Iran following Iraq's entry into the war. 300,000 Iranians are captured during the battle.
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Military situation October 1980
October 17: Iraqi and rebel forces meet up at Izeh.
October 20: The Persian Offensive begins, combined Iraqi and rebel forces attack into Central Iran aiming to dethrone Khomeini and end the war by Christmas.
October 25: Isafan falls.
October 28: Khorramabad falls.
November 3: Qom and Qoshachay fall.
November 8: Qazvin and Karaj fall. Siege of Tehran begins.
December 14: Tehran falls to combined Iraqi-Rebel forces.
TREATY OF QOSHACHAY
- The Islamic Republic of Iran will be dissolved and the rebels will take control over the country.
- Iraq will annex Khuzestan, Ilam and Kermanshah from Iran as reward for their assistance.
- Khomeini and his government will be jailed and tried.
- The National Iranian Republic will be declared
- Iraq and the NIR will sign a pact of friendship and economic assistance.
Political Situation, 1981
POST CIVIL WAR TIMELINE