Iranian Revolution

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Iranian Revolution
Mass demonstrations of people protesting against the Shah and the Pahlavi government on the day of Hosseini's Ashura on 11 December 1978 at College Bridge, Tehran
Date	7 January 1978 (1978-01-07) – 11 February 1979 (1979-02-11) (1 year, 1 month and 4 days)
Location	Imperial State of Iran
Caused by	Discontent with Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's rule Exile of Ruhollah Khomeini (religious sector) Social injustice and others
Goals	Overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty
Methods	Demonstrations Strikes Civil resistance Rioting[1] Armed street fighting[2]
Resulted in	Revolutionaries' victory Overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the monarchy Establishment of the Interim Government of Iran Constitution of the Islamic Republic replaced Persian Constitution of 1906 with referendum Ruhollah Khomeini becomes the Supreme Leader Iran hostage crisis Beginning of the Iran–Iraq War in 1980 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 sponsor of terrorism Nojeh coup plot Start of the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict The Islamic Republic of Iran cuts all ties with Israel, which would later evolve into the Iran–Israel proxy conflict
Parties
Imperial State of Iran Pro-Shah Groups Regency Council[a] Rastakhiz Party (until 1 November 1978) Imperial Army[b] Imperial Guard SAVAK Shahrbani Gendarmerie Revolutionary Council Islamist Opposition Combatant Clergy Association Islamic Association of Students Islamic Association of Teachers Islamic Association of Engineers Islamic Association of Physicians Islamic Coalition Societies Fada'iyan-e Islam Mojahedin Liberal Democratic Opposition Freedom Movement of Iran National Front JAMA Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan Confederation of Iranian Students Leftist Opposition Mojahedin-e-Khalq Fadaiyan-e-Khalq Tudeh Party Sarbedaran Peykar Movement of Militant Muslims Razmandegan Worker's Way Komalah Union of Communist Militants
Lead figures
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Jamshid Amouzegar Jafar Sharif-Emami Gholam Reza Azhari Shapour Bakhtiar Nematollah Nassiri  Nasser Moghaddam  Abbas Gharabaghi Gholam Ali Oveissi Ruhollah Khomeini Mehdi Bazargan Morteza Motahhari X
Casualties and losses
See Casualties of the Iranian Revolution
^ Regency Council was practically dissolved on 22 January 1979, when its head resigned to meet Ruhollah Khomeini. ^ Imperial Iranian Army revoked their allegiance to the throne and declared neutrality on 11 February 1979.

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History of Iran
Prehistoric period BCE / BC Baradostian culture c. 36,000–18,000 Zarzian culture c. 20,000–10,000 Shulaveri–Shomu culture c. 6000–5000 Zayandeh River Culture c. 6th millennium Dalma culture c. 5th millennium
Ancient period Kura–Araxes culture 3400–2000 Helmand culture/Jiroft culture c. 3300–2200 Proto-Elamite 3200–2700 Lullubi Kingdom/Zamua c. 3100-675 Elam 2700–539 Marhaši c. 2550-2020 Oxus Civilization c. 2400–1700 Akkadian Empire 2400–2150 Kassites c. 1500–1155 Avestan period c. 1500–500 Neo-Assyrian Empire 911–609 Urartu 860–590 Mannaea 850–616 Zikirti 750-521 Saparda 720-670
Imperial period Median Empire 678–550 BC Scythian Kingdom 652–625 BC Anshanite Kingdom 635 BC–550 BC Neo-Babylonian Empire 626 BC–539 BC Sogdia c. 6th century BC–11th century AD Achaemenid Empire 550 BC–330 BC Kingdom of Armenia 331 BC–428 AD Atropatene c. 323 BC–226 AD Kingdom of Cappadocia 320s BC–17 AD Seleucid Empire 312 BC–63 BC Kingdom of Pontus 281 BC–62 BC Fratarakas 3rd-century BC–132 BC Parthian Empire 247 BC–224 AD Elymais 147 BC–224 AD Characene 141 BC–222 AD Kings of Persis 132 BC–224 AD Indo-Parthian Kingdom 19 AD–224/5 Paratarajas 125–300 Sasanian Empire 224–651 Zarmihrids 6th century–785 Qarinvandids 550s–11th century
Medieval period CE / AD Rashidun Caliphate 632-661 Umayyad Caliphate 661–750 Abbasid Caliphate 750–1258 Dabuyids 642–760 Bavandids 651–1349 Masmughans of Damavand 651–760 Baduspanids 665–1598 Justanids 791 – 11th century Alid dynasties 864 – 14th century Tahirid dynasty 821–873 Samanid Empire 819–999 Saffarid dynasty 861–1003 Ghurid dynasty pre-879 – 1215 Sajid dynasty 889–929 Sallarid dynasty 919–1062 Ziyarid dynasty 930–1090 Ilyasids 932–968 Buyid dynasty 934–1062 Rawadid dynasty 955–1070 Hasanwayhids 959–1095 Ghaznavid dynasty 977–1186 Annazids 990/1–1117 Kakuyids 1008–1141 Nasrid dynasty 1029–1236 Shabankara 1030–1355 Seljuk Empire 1037–1194 Khwarazmian dynasty 1077–1231 Nizari Ismaili state 1090–1257 Eldiguzids 1135–1225 Atabegs of Yazd 1141–1319 Salghurids 1148–1282 Hazaraspids 1155–1424 Pishkinid dynasty 1155–1231 Khorshidi dynasty 1184-1597 Qutlugh-Khanids 1223-1306 Eshaqvand Dynasty c. mid-13th century–1592 Mihrabanids 1236–1537 Kurt dynasty 1244–1396 Ilkhanate Empire 1256–1335 Chobanid dynasty 1335–1357 Muzaffarid dynasty 1335–1393 Jalayirid Sultanate 1337–1376 Sarbadars 1337–1376 Injuids 1335–1357 Afrasiyab dynasty 1349–1504 Mar'ashis 1359–1596 Timurid Empire 1370–1507 Kar-Kiya dynasty 1370s–1592 Qara Qoyunlu 1406–1468 Aq Qoyunlu 1468–1508
Early modern period Safavid Iran 1501–1736 (Hotak dynasty) 1722–1729 Afsharid Iran 1736–1796 Zand dynasty 1751–1794
Modern period Qajar Iran 1789–1925 Pahlavi Iran 1925–1979
Contemporary period Iranian Revolution 1979 Interim Government 1979 Islamic Republic 1979–present
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The Iranian Revolution (Persian: انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân [ʔeɴɢeˌlɒːbe ʔiːɾɒːn]), also known as the 1979 Revolution, or the Islamic Revolution of 1979 (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 Islamic Republic of Iran, as the monarchical government of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was superseded by Ruhollah Khomeini, an Islamist 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]

In 1953, the CIA- and MI6-backed 1953 Iranian coup d'état overthrew Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, who had nationalized the country's oil industry to reclaim sovereignty from British control.^[6][7][8] The coup reinstated Mohammad Reza Pahlavi as an absolute monarch and significantly increased United States influence over Iran. Economically, American firms gained considerable control over Iranian oil production, with US companies taking around 40 percent of the profits. Politically, Iran acted as a counterweight to the Soviet Union and aligned closely with the Western Bloc. Additionally, the US provided the Shah both the funds and the training for SAVAK, Iran’s infamous secret police, with CIA assistance.^[9][10][11]

By the late 1960s and early 1970s, with the US increasingly involved in the Vietnam War and unable to maintain its interests globally, it adopted the Nixon Doctrine, effectively shifting the burden of regional security to allied states. Iran under the Shah, became "regional policemen" in the Persian Gulf, with Iran’s defense budget increasing around 800 percent over four to five years, as it purchased advanced weaponry from the US. This rapid militarization contributed to severe economic instability, including spiraling inflation, mass migration from rural areas to cities, and widespread social disruption. At the same time, the Shah’s regime grew increasingly authoritarian; those who spoke out were often arrested or tortured by SAVAK.^[12] Much of this repression unfolded with little scrutiny or challenge from the US. By the late 1970s, popular resistance to the Shah’s rule had reached a breaking point.^[9][13][14] Additionally in 1963, the Shah launched the White Revolution, a top-down modernization and land reform program that alienated many sectors of society, especially the clergy. Khomeini emerged as a vocal critic and was exiled 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.^[15][16][17] By 1977, mass protests were underway. A key turning point occurred in August 1978, when the Cinema Rex fire killed around 400 people. While arson by Islamist militants was later alleged, a large portion of the public believed it was a false flag operation by the Shah's secret police (SAVAK) to discredit the opposition and justify a crackdown, fueling nationwide outrage and mobilization. By the end of 1978, the revolution had become a broad-based uprising that paralyzed the country for the remainder of that year.^[18][19]

On 16 January 1979, Pahlavi went into exile as the last Iranian monarch,^[20] leaving 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;^[13][21] several million greeted him as he landed in Tehran.^[22] By 11 February, the monarchy was brought down and Khomeini assumed leadership while guerrillas and rebel troops overwhelmed Pahlavi loyalists in armed combat.^[23][24] 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;^{[25][15][16][26][27]} Khomeini emerged as the Supreme Leader of Iran in December 1979.^[28]

The revolution was fueled by widespread perceptions of the Shah's regime as corrupt, repressive, and overly reliant on foreign powers, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom. Many Iranians felt that the Shah's government was not acting in the best interests of the Iranian people and that it was too closely aligned with Western interests, especially at the expense of Iranian sovereignty and cultural identity.^[29][30] However others perceived the success of the revolution as being unusual,^[31] since it lacked many customary causes of revolutionary sentiment, e.g. defeat in war, financial crisis, peasant rebellion, or disgruntled military.^[32] It occurred in a country experiencing relative prosperity,^[13][27] produced profound change at great speed,^[33] and resulted in a massive exile that characterizes a large portion of Iranian diaspora,^[34] and replaced a pro-Western secular^[35] and authoritarian monarchy^[13] with an anti-Western Islamic republic^{[13][26][27][36]} based on the concept of Velâyat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist), straddling between authoritarianism and totalitarianism.^[37] In addition to declaring the destruction of Israel as a core objective,^[38][39] 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.^[40] 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.^[41]