1979 Islamic Revolution: Fall of the Pahlavi Dynasty in Iran

1979 Islamic Revolution Latest News

• Protests that erupted in Iran in late December over rising inflation and economic distress have turned deadly, with at least 42 deaths reported by January 9. 
• While authorities acknowledge economic hardships, they have responded with a strong crackdown on dissent.
• The unrest has created political space for Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. 
• Living in exile, Pahlavi has sought to position himself as a rallying figure amid the turmoil.

Origins of the Pahlavi Dynasty

• Reza Shah Pahlavi, grandfather of Reza Pahlavi, rose from a military background and seized power in 1925 after a coup against Ahmad Shah Qajar. 
• His takeover occurred amid imperial pressures, with Britain and Russia vying for influence in Iran.

Foreign Influence and Economic Concessions

• Iran’s vulnerability was underscored by sweeping concessions to foreign powers. 
• In 1872, a British company secured extensive industrial and mineral rights from the Qajar dynasty—later criticised by Lord Curzon as an unprecedented surrender of national resources. 
• Though revoked, the episode highlighted Iran’s subjugation to external interests.

Abdication and Wartime Upheaval

• Reza Shah abdicated in 1941 after Allied forces invaded Iran, citing its ties with Germany. 
• This shifted national sentiment toward democratic leadership and sovereignty.

Mossadegh and the Oil Nationalisation Drive

• Mohammed Mossadegh, a Western-educated jurist, became Prime Minister (1951–1953) and championed nationalising Iran’s oil to benefit its people. 
• His stance antagonised Western powers, particularly Britain, which had controlled Iranian oil through the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (later British Petroleum).

The 1953 Coup and Restoration of the Shah

• Fearing loss of strategic and economic interests, Britain—with US backing—engineered regime change in 1953. 
• Mossadegh was arrested, and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was restored to power, entrenching the Pahlavi monarchy under Western support.

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Iran under Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

• Mohammad Reza Pahlavi pursued social and economic modernisation, but his rule remained authoritarian. 
• A key instrument of repression was SAVAK, the secret police notorious for surveillance, arrests, and torture of dissidents.
• Independent political and civic institutions were not allowed to function. 
  • As noted by historians, political parties, unions, student groups, and civic organisations were suppressed, forcing dissent into mosques and giving the opposition a growing religious character.

Rise of Mass Protests and Collapse of Monarchy 

• By the 1970s, widespread dissatisfaction culminated in protests involving diverse groups, from communists to Islamists. 
• Despite harsh crackdowns, sustained agitation weakened the regime’s hold on power.
• In 1979, the Shah and his family fled Iran. 
• A referendum soon after established an Islamic Republic with Ayatollah Khomeini as Supreme Leader. 
• While the new regime promised change, it soon mirrored many authoritarian practices of the past, compounded by religious fundamentalism.

1979 Islamic Revolution

• The 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew the monarchy of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, ending over five decades of Pahlavi rule in Iran.

Context and Causes

• The revolution was not a single event but a culmination of decade-long grievances against Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
  • Political Autocracy: The Shah ruled as a secular dictator, suppressing dissent through his brutal secret police, SAVAK.
  • The “White Revolution“: Launched in 1963, these were aggressive modernization and land reforms. While intended to modernize Iran, they alienated the traditional Ulema (clergy) and the rural peasantry.
  • Westernization & Cultural Identity: Rapid Western-style modernization was perceived as “Westoxification” (Gharbzadegi), undermining Iran’s Islamic and cultural fabric.
  • Economic Disparities: Despite high oil revenues, the gap between the rich (elite) and the poor (urban working class/migrant peasants) widened, fueled by corruption and inflation.
  • Foreign Influence: The Shah was seen as a “puppet” of the US, especially after the 1953 CIA-backed coup that ousted the democratically elected PM Mohammad Mossadegh.

Key Events of the Revolution (1978–1979)

• Jan 1978: Protests ignited in Qom after a state-sponsored article insulted Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who was in exile.
• Black Friday (Sept 1978): Security forces fired on protesters in Tehran’s Jaleh Square, leading to massive casualties and making the revolution irreversible.
• Shah’s Departure: On January 16, 1979, the Shah fled Iran for Egypt.
• Khomeini’s Return: On February 1, 1979, Khomeini returned from exile to a rapturous welcome.
• Proclamation of the Republic: On April 1, 1979, following a national referendum, Iran was declared an Islamic Republic.

Post-Revolutionary Governance: Velayat-e Faqih

• The new political system was based on Khomeini’s doctrine of “Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist”:
  • Theocracy + Democracy: It blended republican elements (Parliament/Majlis, President) with theocratic ones (Supreme Leader, Guardian Council).
  • Sovereignty: Unlike Western democracies where sovereignty lies with the people, here it is derived from Divine Will, interpreted by the Supreme Leader.

Source: IE | AJ