Iranian Revolution

The Iranian Revolution of 1979 was a turning point in Iran’s history. The revolution resulted in the overthrow of Shah Mohammed Reza, who belonged to the Pahlavi Dynasty, who established a pro–western regime. It led to the Islamic Republic’s establishment under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s leadership. The Iranian Revolution was a Shia Islamic Revolution.

In this particular article, we will focus on its background, causes, and impacts.

Iranian Revolution Summary

Aspect	Details
Date	1979
Location	Iran
Background Causes	– Dissatisfaction with Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s rule, including his authoritarian regime and close ties with the West.
	– Economic disparities and social injustices.
	– Religious discontent among Iran’s majority Shi’a population, led by clerical opposition to the Shah’s policies.
Key Events	– January 1978: The first major demonstrations against the Shah.
	– August 1978: Cinema Rex fire, accelerating protests.
	– September 1978: Black Friday massacre increases unrest.
	– December 1978: Millions march in Tehran in a show of support for Ayatollah Khomeini.
Outcome	– February 1979: Shah leaves Iran; Ayatollah Khomeini returns from exile and takes control.
	– April 1, 1979: Establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran following a national referendum.
Consequences	– Overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty.
	– Establishment of a theocratic republic under Ayatollah Khomeini.
	– Significant changes in Iran’s domestic and foreign policy, including a shift towards Islamic governance and away from Western influence.
International Impact	– The revolution had profound effects on the geopolitics of the Middle East, altering the dynamics of power in the region.
	– It led to the Iran Hostage Crisis, where 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days, significantly affecting US-Iran relations.

Brief History of the Iranian Revolution

• Britain and the Soviet Union conquered Iran during World War II. The Shah of Iran, Reza Shah, who was ruling Iran at this point, was a pro-Axis supporter.
• The Allied powers were sceptical about him and they feared that they might end up losing control over Iran’s oilfields.
• The Allied deposed Reza Shah and his rule was replaced by his son Shah Mohammed Reza.
• Mohammed Reza Pallavi shared a very cordial acquantainship with the Western powers. But, in 1953, there was a power struggle between Reza Pahlavi’s Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, and Reza Shah eloped to Italy.
• The people democratically elected Mohammad Mossadegh. He nationalized the oil fields.
• Reza Shah restored the Iranian throne by overthrowing Mossadegh. The American CIA and the British M16 helped him.
• This did not go well with the Iranian people, as in both circumstances, Reza was helped by the West to come to power. They started thinking that the Pallavi Dynasty became puppets in the hands of Western culture.
• Reza started to embark on the policy of modernization, that would topple the traditional culture and create a new Western culture. This was referred to as the White Revolution.
• Unexpectedly, the White Revolution did not work well for Reza. It led to the coming up of two new classes, the intelligentsia and the new working class, which in turn led to more social tension in Iran. They became a threat to Reza’s power.
• One such stringent opposition came from a Shia cleric – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. He raised his voice against the Shah’s reforms. Due to this, he was sent into exile.
• The new economic reforms created unemployment among the youth. Khomeini’s opposition worked as an added advantage for the youths.
• Khomeini stressed that he aimed to overthrow the hegemony of the West and revive the traditional culture. He gained widespread support even from the secular intellectuals, who believed that only the Ulema could help in overthrowing the Shah.

Timeline of Iranian Revolution

Date	Event
January 1978	The revolution begins with protests against Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, sparked by an article attacking Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
February 1978	Protests escalate across various cities.
August 1978	The Cinema Rex fire in Abadan kills hundreds, inflaming anti-Shah sentiments.
September 1978	Black Friday: A deadly military crackdown on protesters in Tehran’s Jaleh Square.
October 1978	Nationwide strikes and demonstrations paralyze the country’s economy.
December 1978	Millions march in Tehran in support of Khomeini, marking a significant turn in the revolution.
January 1979	Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi leaves Iran for exile.
February 1, 1979	Ayatollah Khomeini returns to Iran from exile.
February 11, 1979	The monarchy collapses, and the military declares neutrality. The Islamic Republic of Iran is effectively established.
April 1, 1979	A national referendum results in overwhelming support for the establishment of an Islamic Republic.
November 1979	US Embassy hostage crisis begins, marking a significant point of contention in US-Iran relations.

Causes of the Iranian Revolution

The Iranian Revolution was a culmination of various social, political, and economic causes

• Autocratic Rule: The Shah regime was known for its brutal rule, political repression, and violation the human rights and for its secret police agency SAVAK.
• Socio-economic inequality: Even though, Iran was experiencing economic growth and the system of modernization under the Shah. The economic distribution was unequal. The urban section was enjoying the wealth of the country, whereas the rural sections of the society became victims of poverty, unemployment, and low standard of living.
• Westernization: The policy of modernization by the Shah was not taken well by the Iranian people. The Iranian people perceived the Shah as the puppet of foreign culture. Cultural imperialism and Westernization by the Shah further fuelled the situation.
• Religious opposition: The stringent opposition by a cleric, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. He encouraged the Iranian people that Islamisation would be revived by overthrowing the Shah’s rule.

Iranian Revolution 2022

In 2022, Iran experienced a significant wave of protests, ignited by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died after being taken into custody by the morality police for allegedly violating Iran’s mandatory hijab law. The protests, which began on September 16, 2022, quickly spread across Iran, marking one of the most significant challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 1979 Revolution. The movement called for the overthrow of the Iranian regime, the protection of civil and political rights, including women’s rights, the revocation of mandatory religious requirements like the hijab law, and the dissolution of the Morality Police.

The protests were met with severe repression from the government, including police brutality, hundreds of deaths, and the detention of tens of thousands of people. Despite the crackdown, the protests saw widespread support from various sections of Iranian society and garnered attention worldwide. They represented a significant moment of resistance against the Islamic Republic, especially concerning women’s rights and broader issues of freedom and democracy in Iran.

Effects Of The Iranian Revolution

• Domestic change: The Iranian Revolution brought a long-term change in Iran. The Islamic Republic was established under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. It implemented Islamic rule, and centralized rule in educational and economic sectors.
• Strongest relation with the U.S.: The bilateral relation and the regional stability between the U.S. and Iran deteriorated after the seizure of the US embassy in Tehran by the Iranian militants.
• Social and cultural transformation: The establishment of the Islamic Republic brought some social and cultural change in Iran. The religious conservatives enjoyed many liberties under Ayatollah, whereas personal freedom, and civil liberties especially for women became very restricted.

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Iranian Revolution- FAQs

What happened at the Iranian Revolution?

The revolution also 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 government of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a religious cleric who had headed one of the rebel factions.

Who led the Iranian Revolution?

The Iranian Revolution was the Shia Islamic revolution that replaced the secular monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi with a theocracy led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Who took over Iran in 1979?

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini took over Iran in 1979.