INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
was forced to flee the country in January 1979, less than a month before the Pahlavi dynasty was toppled in the Islamic Revolution.The short
headline has been described as the "most famous headline in Iranian history." Newspapers carrying this headline sold over a million copies
It was reported that he and his third wife, Farah Diba, took a large portion of their wealth on two planes destined for Aswan in southern
Egypt.Why did the despotic Shah leave?After the failure of his Prime Minister Gholamreza Ezhari's military administration to quell
protests and restore calm, the Shah asked for a royal council to elect a new prime minister
He hoped to maintain his rule and negotiate with the revolution's leader, but this final attempt also failed.He appointed Shapour Bakhtiar
from the National Front of Iran as prime minister in an attempt to appease revolutionaries
Army mutiny further forced his escape; this time with no return in sight.The Shah had first been forced to leave the country in August 1953
after attempting to dismiss democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddeq
Days later, British and United States intelligence agents orchestrated a coup against Mosaddeq, and the Shah returned to power as a
despotic ruler, supported by his Western allies.His wife, then the crown prince, reportedly proposed that he relinquish his monarchical
authority to her, but he rejected forced abdication as pointless.Fourteen days later, the founding father of the Islamic Revolution,
Ayatollah Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, known as Imam Khomeini in Iran and the Islamic world, returned from 15 years of exile and took control
of Iran.Pahlavi died of cancer just 18 months later at age 60, broken and stateless, having been refused asylum by his former ally, the
After his departure, people across the country more bravely took to the streets, demanding an end to his corrupt, despotic regime
The absolute majority of Iranians detested him and were jubilant after his escape.By staying in Egypt, he hoped to return to Iran and regain
his lost power, but with the arrival of Imam Khomeini (PBUH) in Iran and the rapid progress of the revolution, all the Shah's hopes were
Faced with growing public anger, government officials quit one after another
With the Shah gone, the motivation to defend the monarchical system faded.The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini, reacted to
In less than a month, under his wise leadership, the Shahpour Bakhtiar government was toppled.The Imam referred to the Shah's escape as
the beginning of an end, stating, "The Shah's escape is not a victory, rather it is the start of victory
domination."Imam Khomeini described the people's unity as the main factor that forced the Shah out: "This unity of words caused that
neither the Shah with all the power he possessed, nor those who supported him, big powers such as America, the Soviet Union, China, Britain,
was a humiliation for United States imperialism, as the main backer of his regime
Kings, he was insulting even the kings
one can overcome any difficulties and reach their own target, no matter how difficult the way may be," the Leader of the Islamic Revolution
further said.The Shah traveled to several countries before entering the United States in October 1979
In Tehran, students responded on November 4 by taking over the United States embassy, considered a Den of Espionage
Backed by Imam Khomeini, the students demanded the return of the Shah to Iran to face justice for his crimes, but the American government
Subsequently, 52 American diplomats were held in Iran for 444 days.Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi died in Egypt in July 1980
His death ended not only his 37-year reign but also 2,500 years of monarchy in Iran.
