Here's the last 1200 years of Iran's history. It has been conquered many times so I don't see why it can't happen again.
Here is a compact history of Iran (historically often called Persia) over the last ~1200 years, from around 800 CE to March 2026, focusing on major dynasties, shifts, and events:
- **~800–1050 CE: Post-Arab Conquest & Iranian Intermezzo**
After the 7th-century Arab-Muslim conquest ended the Sasanian Empire, Iran was under Abbasid Caliphate rule (centered in Baghdad). From the 9th century, semi-independent Iranian dynasties emerged (e.g., Tahirids, Saffarids, Samanids), reviving Persian language, culture, and administration while remaining nominally Islamic.
- **1055–1194: Seljuk Empire**
Turkic Seljuk Turks conquered much of Iran, establishing a Sunni empire that promoted Persian culture and science (e.g., vizier Nizam al-Mulk, poet Omar Khayyam). They fragmented after internal strife.
- **1220–1335: Mongol Conquest & Ilkhanate**
Genghis Khan's Mongols devastated Iran (1220s), killing millions and destroying cities. His grandson Hulagu founded the Ilkhanate (Mongol rule over Persia/Iraq), which gradually adopted Islam and Persian administration by the late 13th century.
- **~1335–1501: Fragmentation & Turko-Mongol Rule**
After Ilkhanate collapse, various short-lived states ruled (e.g., Timur/Tamerlane's brutal invasions in the late 14th century devastated cities again). No unified Iranian state existed.
- **1501–1736: Safavid Dynasty**
Shah Ismail I unified Iran and forcibly converted the population to Twelver Shia Islam (distinct from Sunni neighbors like Ottomans). Peak under Shah Abbas I (1588–1629): military reforms, trade boom, capital at Isfahan (architectural golden age). Safavids made Shia Islam central to Iranian identity.
- **1736–1796: Brief Interregnum (Nader Shah & Zand)**
Nader Shah (Afsharid) briefly restored power and conquered widely (including Delhi, 1739), but was assassinated. Karim Khan Zand ruled peacefully from Shiraz.
- **1796–1925: Qajar Dynasty**
Turkic-origin dynasty faced territorial losses to Russia (early 19th century wars, losing Caucasus) and Britain. 1905–1911 Constitutional Revolution limited monarchy and created parliament. Foreign influence grew with oil discovery (1908); Iran remained nominally independent but weakened.
- **1925–1979: Pahlavi Dynasty**
Reza Shah (coup 1921, crowned 1925) modernized Iran (infrastructure, secular reforms, renamed country "Iran" 1935). Forced abdication 1941 (WWII Anglo-Soviet occupation); son Mohammad Reza Shah continued Western-oriented modernization, oil boom, but faced growing opposition over autocracy and inequality.
- **1979–present: Islamic Republic**
1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew the Shah; Ayatollah Khomeini established theocratic rule (Velayat-e Faqih). 1979–1981 U.S. embassy hostage crisis; 1980–1988 devastating Iran-Iraq War. Post-Khomeini (1989), presidents alternated reformist/conservative (e.g., Khatami 1997–2005, Ahmadinejad 2005–2013, Rouhani 2013–2021, Raisi 2021–2024). Nuclear program tensions, sanctions, 2009 Green Movement protests, 2022 Mahsa Amini protests. As of March 2026, ongoing regional conflicts (including escalation with Israel/U.S.) amid economic strain and Strait of Hormuz disruptions.
Iran's last 1200 years feature cycles of foreign invasions (Arab, Turkic, Mongol), cultural/persian revival, Shia consolidation (Safavid turning point), and modern struggles between tradition, modernization, and revolution.