Iranian Revolution

The Iranian Revolution was the 1979 revolution that transformed Iran from an autocratic, pro-western monarchy, under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, to an Islamic, populist theocratic republic under the rule of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The revolution has been divided into two stages: the first stage saw an alliance of liberal, leftist, and religious groups oust the Shah; the second stage, often named the Islamic Revolution, saw the ayatollah's come to power.

Opposition to the revolution

Western/U.S.-Iranian relations

That same month saw anger at the United States, which continued to support the Shah and was blamed for encouraging counter-revolutionary activity. That feeling peaked, as youthful supporters of Khomeini took a number of hostages at the American embassy, in what became known as the Iran hostage crisis. The students responsible would blame it on the United States for accepting the Shah into the country for cancer treatments, but the message was clear; they could defy the U.S.

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Opposition by neighboring regimes

The leaders of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States were also distressed by the Iranian revolution, and feared similar events in their own nations. Thus, in 1980, Iraq, with financial support from the other nations and the backing of the United States, invaded Iran in an attempt to destroy the revolution in its infancy. This began the eight year Iran-Iraq War that would see a huge cost in lives and resources.

Related Topics:
Iraq - Kuwait - Saudi Arabia - Gulf States - 1980 - Iran-Iraq War

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The invasion by Iraq helped rally the people of Iran behind the new regime, and past differences were largely abandoned in the face of the external threat. In the same year, the new constitution was passed in a referendum by a large majority. For those who did remain opposed to the new regime, mostly the Soviet-backed leftist groups, the war became an excuse for harsh treatment that saw the new regime use torture and illegal imprisonments, just as the Shah had.

Related Topics:
Referendum - Soviet

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While Iraq was, in the end, unsuccessful at defeating the revolution, the Islamic revolution failed to spread beyond the borders of Iran. The significant Shi'ite populations of Iraq and the Gulf States did not embrace the new model. Rather, it was the very different Sunni Muslim strain of radical Islam that became an important force in the region, leading to the creation of the hostile Taliban regime in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Related Topics:
Sunni - Taliban - Afghanistan

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The one area where Iranian influence was extended, was into the Lebanese Civil War, where Hezbollah became closely allied with the Iranians, fighting first the Iraqi and Syrian factions in Lebanon, and later the Israelis. This support for a group regarded as terrorists by much of the world, especially the United States, further ostracized Iran from the world community. Since the end of the civil war, Hezbollah has developed a significant domestic base and is no longer reliant on support from Iran, but relations between the two remain close.

Related Topics:
Lebanese Civil War - Hezbollah - Israeli

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Exile of previous regime

Upon the ascension of the new Shi'ite regime, scores of the Shah's secret police, the SAVAK, and other supporters of the Shah were executed (most importantly by Sadegh Khalkhali, the Sharia ruler). The Shah himself found political asylum in Egypt under Anwar Sadat (a move that further alienated Sadat from his Islamic counterpart nations). The Shah, already terminally ill with cancer, died in Cairo on July 27, 1980.

Related Topics:
Sadegh Khalkhali - Egypt - Anwar Sadat - Cancer - Cairo - July 27 - 1980

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