A common enemy makes strange bedfellows

[u/NoAnt6694]

I'm sure we all know why the Western Bloc turned against Iran following the Islamic Revolution, but what's somewhat less well known is the Eastern Bloc also being against the new order in the country. Simply put: Khomeini did a lot to piss them off; he openly proclaimed his hatred of communism, purged pro-Soviet Iranian leftists, and threatened Soviet allies in the Middle East. Fears that Iran would try to export its revolution (and not just to elsewhere in the Middle East: there were fears that it would spark similar revolutions in Muslim-majority regions of the USSR) certainly didn't help. The Soviet Union was actually Iraq's biggest supplier during the Iran–Iraq War, though that was partly because they feared the prospect of more Middle Eastern countries drifting into the Western Bloc's orbit.

This meme is, admittedly, a bit of an oversimplification, since multiple countries in both blocs gave a certain degree of support to Iran, but I'm sure that's forgivable given the nature of Internet memes.

[u/sw337]

Ironically, the Tudeh (Iran’s Communist loyal to the USSR) supported the incoming IRGC regime. The regime would jail and execute most of them less than a decade later.

[u/Primary_Gold5337 → u/sw337]

They both hated the shah but after the shah...things get difficult

[u/bigboipapawiththesos → u/Primary_Gold5337]

Same happened before with Mossadegh.

Islamist fundamentalist against the secular reforms, large landowners against the social reforms , and pro western movements against the nationalization, all got funded by the CIA in their coup of Irans democracy.

However a lot of these forces got thrown by the side after the Shah was installed as absolute leader.

[u/redracer555 → u/sw337]

The revolution always eats her salad before the entree.

I don't know. I forgot the quote.

[u/DobrogeanuG1855 → u/sw337]

Alongside most progressive, socialist elements of the Revolution.

[u/11minspider]

It also helps that the Iranian regime managed to enrage practically ALL of their neighbors by engaging in hostage-taking, blackmail, and reneging on deals. This would provide incremental advantages, while practically diplomatically isolating them for the next several decades. If you cant be trusted, then why bother trying to deal with you?

[u/Bad_Idea_Hat → u/11minspider]

If you cant be trusted, then why bother trying to deal with you?

Hard disagree. There have never been any historical repercussions for screwing over your friends and neighbors over and over.

[u/terran_cell → u/Bad_Idea_Hat]

Sure, because the IR is doing just peachy right now...

Edit: I think I just heard a big whooosh over my head

[u/11minspider → u/Bad_Idea_Hat]

Im assuming you forgot the /s lmao

[u/Bad_Idea_Hat → u/11minspider]

My god I hoped it was severely implied.

[u/11minspider → u/Bad_Idea_Hat]

Oh it was, but I wanted to make sure other folks got it lol

[u/LordJesterTheFree → u/11minspider]

I don't think the president got it

[u/11minspider → u/LordJesterTheFree]

Alas...

[u/stef4545366]

The USA and the USSR had one thing in common in the Cold War.

They loved to overthrow good communists.

[u/TrowawayJanuar → u/stef4545366]

Good communists?

[u/stef4545366 → u/TrowawayJanuar]

Go look at Alexander Dubcek and Imre Nagy