Milestone·Modern
Iranian Islamic Revolution
- Date
- 16 January 1979 CE1399 AH47 years ago
- Place
- Tehran, Iran
- People
- Ruhollah Khomeini, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi
In January 1979 CE, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi left Iran, and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile on 1 February. Protests across the country had grown through 1978. The monarchy collapsed in February 1979. An Islamic republic was declared in April 1979 after a national referendum. A new constitution gave the clergy an important role in government.
Why it matters
It created the Islamic Republic of Iran, a state with clerical leadership, and reshaped Middle East politics.