3. The Iranian Revolution Began on January 7, 1978
The Islamic Revolution could be said to have begun on January 7, 1978, when an article published in the newspaper Ittila’at vilified Khomeini, who was now the pre-eminent symbol of the Resistance. Within hours, the newspaper office was ransacked, and a popular uprising began in Qom. A series of government crackdowns and more popular protests and riots ensued, culminating in the overthrow of the shah, the return of Khomeini from his exile in France, and the creation of the Islamic Republic in 1979. The shah would stay in power for another year, not realizing that his people had turned entirely against him. During that year, the country would change so dramatically that it would have little resemblance with the land that the Shah had ruled.
The revolution came as a shock to much of the international community. Just a few years ago, dignitaries from all over had partied and celebrated in the ancient city of Persepolis to commemorate 2,500 years of Iran’s monarchy. Iran had long been friendly with Western powers, and leaders like President Jimmy Carter hadn’t realized just how unpopular he really was with his own people. This wasn’t a surprise, as the Shah himself hadn’t realized how unpopular he was. Apparently, 2,500 years of the monarchy was not enough to secure his reign.