Very much not because of religion, and I say this as a staunch atheist. Iran was well on its way to progressive and secular reform, separation of state and church, and leftism, during the government coalition that put Mosaddegh in the government somewhat above half a century ago. It was the US + UK who militarily embargoed the country and bribed authorities, mafias and religious leaders, as well as paid actors to destroy private property and pretend to be progovernment, in order to (sadly successfully)'coup the president because British Petroleum wanted absolute control of Iranian oil.
The west destroyed Iran, it’s not religion that did. We literally supported the Shah at the time.
Very much not because of religion, and I say this as a staunch atheist. Iran was well on its way to progressive and secular reform, separation of state and church, and leftism, during the government coalition that put Mosaddegh in the government somewhat above half a century ago. It was the US + UK who militarily embargoed the country and bribed authorities, mafias and religious leaders, as well as paid actors to destroy private property and pretend to be progovernment, in order to (sadly successfully)'coup the president because British Petroleum wanted absolute control of Iranian oil.
The west destroyed Iran, it’s not religion that did. We literally supported the Shah at the time.