Rod D. Martin@RodDMartin · Jul 8, 2025

🚨 In 1977, Iran was one of America’s closest allies. By 1979, it was chanting “Death to America.” What changed? Jimmy…

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Summary

This thread argues that President Jimmy Carter's withdrawal of support for Iran's Shah in 1977-1979 led to the Islamic Revolution, empowered Ayatollah Khomeini, and triggered decades of Iranian-sponsored terrorism and regional instability. The author contends Carter misread the situation by viewing the Shah as a human rights abuser and Khomeini as moderate, resulting in consequences that persist 46 years later.

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#1
🚨 In 1977, Iran was one of America’s closest allies. By 1979, it was chanting “Death to America.” What changed? Jimmy Carter. He betrayed our ally, empowered the Ayatollah, and gave birth to 46 years of terror. Here’s just one way Carter broke the world 🧵
#2
2/ It sounds insane today, but in 1977, our two strongest allies in the Middle East were: 🇮🇱 Israel 🇮🇷 Iran Yes — Iran. The Shah was pro-Western, modernizing, and fiercely anti-Communist. Henry Kissinger called him the “rock of stability” in the region.
#3
3/ On New Year’s Eve 1977, Jimmy Carter stood beside the Shah and toasted him as: “An island of stability in one of the more troubled areas of the world.” He said no leader on Earth had earned his deeper personal friendship. That was December 1977.
#4
4/ By January 1979 — just 13 months later — the Shah was gone. In his place: Ayatollah Khomeini. Iran's new regime called America “the Great Satan,” held Americans hostage, and began funding terrorism across the globe. It was Carter who let it happen.
#5
5/ Why? Carter believed the Shah was a “human rights abuser.” And that the Ayatollah was a "moderate". So he pulled support and told the world: “We have no intention of trying to intercede in the internal political affairs of Iran.” Translation: “The Shah is on his own.”
#6
6/ Radical Islamists took to the streets. Carter refused to back the Shah. His own White House assumed Khomeini wouldn’t be so bad — he was a "moderate" who'd even “preserve modernization.” They were catastrophically wrong. The Ayatollah unleashed terror on his people and ours.
#7
7/ On Jan 16, 1979, the Shah fled. On Feb 1, Khomeini returned. In less than a month, America’s greatest regional ally was gone — replaced by a totalitarian theocracy that would export death for generations. All thanks to Carter’s backstabbing a man he'd proclaimed his friend.
#8
8/ And it got worse. In October 1979, Carter let the ailing Shah enter the U.S. for cancer treatment. On Nov 4, enraged Iranian radicals stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took 52 Americans hostage. They held them for 444 days.
#9
9/ Carter’s response? Weak. Aimless. Embarrassing. The hostages were finally released — just 20 minutes after Ronald Reagan took office. Not a second sooner. The Ayatollah knew Carter wouldn’t act. He knew Reagan would.
#10
10/ The result of Carter’s betrayal? • 46 years of Iran-funded terror • 444 American hostages • Hezbollah, Hamas & the Houthis • The Iran-Iraq War • Nuclear weapons development • Decades of terrorism around the globe All needless.
#11
11/ What makes it worse? The Shah was far from perfect. But he was liberalizing Iran, albeit gradually. Women were free. Democracy was coming, slowly but surely. Iran was stable and moving into the First World. Look at it now.
#12
12/ Democrats acknowledge none of this. But this isn’t ancient history. Jimmy Carter empowered Iran’s mullahs. Barack Obama sent them billions in CASH. Joe Biden empowered Iran’s proxies. And now, once again, Donald Trump is left to clean up the mess.
#13
I published a full article on this. You should check it out. And while you're there, become a FREE or Premium Member of The Rod Martin Report. rodmartin.org/p/postscript-j…