Assassinations, Political Violence, and Repression in the 1980s (1979–1989)

1. Motahhari assassination signals early post-revolution violence

   May 1, 1979Labels: Morteza Motahhari, Forqan Group

   • Britannica
   • Motahhari bio

2. U.S. Embassy seized, beginning 444-day hostage crisis

   Nov 4, 1979Labels: U S, Student Militants

   • Britannica
   • Hostage crisis

3. Iranian Embassy siege shows conflict reaching abroad

   Apr 30, 1980Labels: Iranian Embassy, SAS Raid

   • NAM
   • Siege overview

4. Iran–Iraq War begins amid internal securitization

   Sep 22, 1980Labels: Iran Iraq, Iraqi invasion

   • Britannica
   • Iran Iraq War

5. Major protest crackdown after Bani-Sadr’s removal

   Jun 20, 1981Labels: MEK, Abolhassan Banisadr

   • 30 Khordad
   • Rajai election

6. Khamenei injured in Abuzar Mosque bomb attack

   Jun 27, 1981Labels: Ali Khamenei, Abuzar Mosque

   • Attack page
   • Khamenei bio

7. IRP headquarters bombing kills Beheshti and others

   Jun 28, 1981Labels: Islamic Republican, Mohammad Beheshti

   • Haft e Tir
   • Beheshti bio

8. Rajai and Bahonar killed in Prime Minister’s office bombing

   Aug 30, 1981Labels: Mohammad-Ali Rajai, Mohammad-Javad Bahonar

   • PM bombing
   • Rajai bio

9. Amnesty reports mass executions after June 1981 crackdown

   Oct 12, 1981Labels: Amnesty International

   • UPI Amnesty

10. Tudeh Party outlawed during major leftist crackdown

    May 4, 1983Labels: Tudeh Party, Iranian state

    • UPI Tudeh
    • Tudeh Party

11. UN Security Council calls for Iran–Iraq ceasefire

    Jul 20, 1987Labels: UN Security, Resolution 598

    • UNSCR 598
    • UNSC 598

12. Iran–Iraq War ceasefire takes effect, violence legacy persists

    Aug 8, 1988Labels: Iran Iraq, 1988 ceasefire

    • UNSC 598
    • UNSCR 598

13. Amnesty warns of political executions amid 1988 prison killings

    Sep 2, 1988Labels: Amnesty International, 1988 prison

    • Amnesty UA
    • 1988 executions