Commentary
Prior to the Iranian revolution in 1978-79, Iran—historically known as Persia—had decent relations with the West. Under the Pahlavi dynasty, Iran traded with the West, and there were cultural exchanges with a number of countries. There was a substantial American and European presence in the country that interacted with Persians in one of the oldest monarchies in history. Although the Shah’s secret police could be ruthless at times, Iranians had some freedoms.
