Nowadays, as Iran is in a new phase of complete liberation from U.S.-Israeli arbitrariness and Iranians have responded honorably to those countries’ military forays, many recall the results of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. That event gave a strong impetus to the spiritual, political and economic upswing of the republic, enabling it to rise to the rank of one of the most advanced economies in the region and to engage in dialogue on an equal footing with the United States and Israel, as well as with other world powers.

The beginning and course of the revolution

The 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran was a popular uprising that led to changes in the state system and various aspects of Iranian society. It was the result of an acute internal political crisis, which was not solved by the moderately liberal changes introduced by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi during the ‘White Revolution’ of the early 1960s and the first half of the 1970s.

The prologue of the Islamic Revolution is considered to be the shooting of a political demonstration of religious students by the Shah’s troops in Qom on January 9, 1978. The actions of the authorities provoked mass popular demonstrations and strikes throughout the country. They involved the urban grassroots, small traders, workers and employees, and students. The protests were led by Muslim figures who gave the manifestations a religious form. In the summer and fall of 1978, the Shah was forced to make concessions to the religious opposition (gambling houses were closed, the Iranian calendar was converted to the Hijrah, etc.), but this did not defuse the situation. Religious circles intensified pressure on the regime and put forward the slogan of creating a society of social justice based on the principles of Islam.

Revolutionary Islamic committees began to be set up throughout the country, often located in mosques. They not only led revolutionary demonstrations, but also acted as organs of local self-government. In Tehran, Khomeini’s supporters established the Revolutionary Islamic Council (January 12, 1979), composed of religious figures and secular politicians, which soon became the second (along with the government) center of power in the country. Up to 3-4 million workers, employees and students took part in the strikes; left-wing political forces, including the People’s Party of Iran (Tudeh), joined in organizing the demonstrations. On February 1, 1979, Khomeini arrived in Tehran and was greeted with jubilation by the residents of the capital.

The uprising in Tehran that ended the monarchy occurred spontaneously, without the knowledge and consent of the leadership of the religious opposition. However, this did not prevent Khomeini from solemnly declaring the victory of the Islamic Revolution and beginning to establish an Islamic state. It was based on the principle developed by Khomeini stating the supremacy of an authoritative Muslim scholar (Velayat-e faqih). On March 30-31, 1979, a referendum was held in Iran which resulted in an overwhelming majority of the population (98.2%)........

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