Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution (Persian: انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân [ʔeɴɢeˌlɒːbe ʔiːɾɒːn]), also known as the 1979 Revolution and the Islamic Revolution (انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī),[4] was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. The revolution led to the replacement of the Imperial State of Iran by the present-day Islamic Republic of Iran, as the monarchical government of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was superseded by the theocratic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a religious cleric who had headed one of the rebel factions. The ousting of Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, formally marked the end of Iran's historical monarchy.[5]
This article is about the 1979 revolution. For the 1905–1911 revolution, see Persian Constitutional Revolution. For the series of reforms launched in 1963, see White Revolution.Iranian Revolution
7 January 1978 – 11 February 1979
(1 year, 1 month and 4 days)
- Discontent with Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's rule
- Exile of Ruhollah Khomeini (religious sector)
- Social injustice
- and others
Overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty
- Demonstrations
- Strikes
- Civil resistance
- Rioting[1]
- Armed street fighting[2]
Revolutionaries victory
- Overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and monarchy
- Constitution of the Islamic Republic replaced Persian Constitution of 1906 with referendum
- Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the new Supreme Leader of Iran
- Iran hostage crisis
- Consolidation of the Iranian Revolution
- Beginning of the Iran–Iraq War
- Hijab for all women by law
- 1979 oil crisis
- Massive exile that characterizes a large portion of today's Iranian diaspora
- Islamic revival worldwide[3]
- International sanctions against Iran
- Anti-Americanist regime change
- Iran designated state-sponsored of terrorism
After the 1953 Iran coup, Pahlavi aligned Iran with the Western Bloc and cultivated a close relationship with the US to consolidate his power as an authoritarian ruler. Relying heavily on American support amidst the Cold War, he remained the Shah of Iran for 26 years, keeping the country from swaying towards the influence of the Eastern Bloc and Soviet Union.[6][7] Beginning in 1963, Pahlavi implemented reforms aimed at modernizing Iran, in the White Revolution. Due to his opposition to modernization Khomeini was exiled from Iran in 1964. However, as ideological tensions persisted between Pahlavi and Khomeini, anti-government demonstrations began in October 1977, developing into a campaign of civil resistance that included communism, socialism, and Islamism.[8][9][10] In August 1978, the deaths of about 400 people in the Cinema Rex fire — claimed by the opposition as having been orchestrated by Pahlavi's SAVAK — served as a catalyst for a popular revolutionary movement across Iran,[11][12] and large-scale strikes and demonstrations paralyzed the country for the remainder of that year.
On 16 January 1979, Pahlavi went into exile as the last Iranian monarch,[13] leaving behind his duties to Iran's Regency Council and Shapour Bakhtiar, the opposition-based prime minister. On 1 February 1979, Khomeini returned, following an invitation by the government;[6][14] several thousand greeted him as he landed in Tehran.[15] By 11 February, the monarchy was brought down and Khomeini assumed leadership while guerrillas and rebel troops overwhelmed Pahlavi loyalists in armed combat.[16][17] Following the March 1979 Islamic Republic referendum, in which 98% approved the shift to an Islamic republic, the new government began drafting the present-day Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran;[18][8][9][19][20] Khomeini emerged as the Supreme Leader of Iran in December 1979.[21]
The success of the Revolution was met with surprise around the world,[22] and was unusual. It lacked many customary causes of revolutionary sentiment, e.g. defeat in war, financial crisis, peasant rebellion, or disgruntled military.[23] It occurred in a country experiencing relative prosperity;[6][20] produced profound change at great speed;[24] was very popular; resulted in the massive exile that characterizes a large portion of Iranian diaspora;[25] and replaced a pro-Western secular[26] and authoritarian monarchy[6] with an anti-Western Islamist theocracy[6][19][20][27] based on the concept of Velâyat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist), straddling between authoritarianism and totalitarianism.[28] In addition to declaring the destruction of Israel as a core objective,[29][30] post-revolutionary Iran aimed to undermine the influence of Sunni leaders in the region, by supporting Shi'ite political ascendancy and exporting Khomeinist doctrines abroad.[31] In the aftermath of the revolution, Iran began to back Shia militancy across the region, to combat Sunni influence and establish Iranian dominance in the Arab world, ultimately aiming to achieve an Iranian-led Shia political order.[32]
An injured revolutionary during protests against Pahlavi regime
Protests in summer 1978
Revolutionary victims
Shah visiting Bakhtiar cabinet before his exit from Iran
People celebrating Shah's exit from the country
Ayatollah Khomeini in Behesht Zahra
Ayatollah Khomeini before a speech at Alavi school
