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The 1979 Iranian Revolution
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The current state of affairs between the west and Islamic world began in 1979. That year, Iran fell to Islamic extremists. Those extremists created a terror state inside and outside Iran. Essentially, one absolutist state replaced another. Interestingly, the revolution lacked the normal causes. The military was not disgruntled nor was there a financial crisis. Instead, the revolution was a reaction to the Shah’s totalitarian government.
The United States placed the Shah on his throne in 1953. The Shah created a police state that terrorized the populace. While he ruled with an iron fist, the Shah maintained a cozy relationship with the U.S. Both countries feared Soviet expansion into the Middle East. America needed a friendly government in the region because of the oil. Throughout his reign, the Shah faced assassination attempts and attacks from nationalists, communists, and Islamics.
By 1977, the Iranian people had enough. Ayatollah Khomeini’s son died of natural causes. The Ayatollah was an influential radical spiritual and political leader. Khomeini’s followers blamed the Shah and militants mobilized while their leader remained in exile. At first, the demonstrations remained confined to a couple hundred protesters, but the numbers quickly grew. In January, 1978, the army killed demonstrators in Qom. Protests escalated and more died. A cycle began. Militants protested and damaged property, and then security forces moved in and killed people.
The Shah was helpless. Neither the Shah nor the American Administration knew what to do. The State Department predicted the fall of the Shah’s government. Despite this, the Carter Administration eventually promised the dictator support. Meanwhile, protests increased dramatically through the summer of 1978.
The Iranian government attempted to assuage the protesters with moderate reforms. However, it was too late and events spiraled. The Shah initiated martial law. On September 8, security forces killed dozens on what Iranian’s call Black Friday. The chance of any compromise between the government and the Islamic revolutionaries ended in the gunfire. Carter called for calm. The Shah thought silencing the Ayatollah would quell the revolt.
The Shah attempted to isolate Khomeini, but failed. The Iranians asked Iraq to deport the Ayatollah. Khomeini had moved to Saddam’s country and orchestrated events from inside the Iraqi border. He fled to Paris where communication with Iran was better than in Iraq. Additionally, people claimed to see his face in the moon. On December 2, millions took to the Tehran’s streets. It is estimated that 10% of the Iranian population took part in demonstrations.
The Shah’s position deteriorated dramatically. He fled Iran when it became obvious that his life was in danger. The Shah requested entry into the United States for cancer treatment. President Carter relented. On January 16, 1979, the Shah left Iran for the last time. The Ayatollah returned from exile on February 1. Khomeini established an Islamic Revolutionary government and essentially kept martial law in place well into the eighties. He suppressed opposition, established a morality police, and replaced the Shah’s dictatorship for his own.
The Shah of Iran was forced from power by Islamic forces. It was the first shot in a conflict between east and west. The Ayatollah’s movement turned out to be just as despotic, morally bankrupt, and corrupt as its predecessor. However, the Ayatollah managed to take advantage of dissatisfaction with the Shah. Afterward, he transferred that anger toward America and the west. The Shah’s move to America for cancer treatment made Khomeini’s job easier and helped consolidate his power.
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