Iranian Revolution

From Metapedia

The Iranian Revolution also known as the Islamic Revolution was the revolution that transformed Iran from a constitutional monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the revolution and founder of the Islamic Republic.^[1] It has been called "the third great revolution in history," following the French and Bolshevik revolutions,^[1] and an event that "made Islamic fundamentalism a political force ... from Morocco to Malaysia."^[1]

Although some might argue that the revolution is still ongoing, its time span can be said to have begun in January 1978 with the first major demonstrations to overthrow the Shah,^[1] and concluded with the approval of the new theocratic constitution whereby Khomeini became supreme leader of the country in December 1979. In between, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi fled Iran in January 1979 after strikes and demonstrations paralyzed the country, and on February 1, 1979 Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Tehran to a greeting by several million Iranians.^[1] The final collapse of the Pahlavi dynasty occurred shortly after on February 11 when Iran's military declared itself "neutral" after guerrillas and rebel troops overwhelmed troops loyal to the Shah in armed street fighting. Iran officially became an Islamic Republic on April 1, 1979 when Iranians overwhelmingly approved a national referendum to make it so.^[1]