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Shah tries to Westernize and Modernize Iran
Shah commences a campaign to Westernize and Modernize Iran. Launching the 'White Revolution', a scheme of land reforms alongside social and economic modernisation. The Shah soon becomes increasingly dependent on the Secret Police, in controlling the opposition movements who were critical of his reforms and enforcing his harsh policies. This new 'White Revolution' socially and economically alienated 40% of the population who lived below subsistence level from the government. -
Khomeini Exiled
Khomeini a supreme religious leader, who spoke out against the Shahs reduction of religous land scapes and the liberatin of women, was forcefully exiled from Iran. -
Khomeini accused of homosexuality
Information Minister Daryoush Homayoun, under the orders of the Shah, accused Khomeini of being a homosexual and participating in other 'misdeeds' in a paper titled "Black and Red Imperialism". This led to a demonstartion of 4000 2 days laters, resulting in the death of many students. -
Protest in Qom
In opposition to the "Black and Red Imperialism" article, masses of revonlutionary religous students and the general public protested throughout the city of Qom. Five to nine protestors were killed in the uprising, however the "opposition estimates ranged up to 300." [causulties]. The uprising soon spread to the rest of the country, into cities such as in Tabriz, Yazd, Jahrom, Shiraz, Isfahan and Tehran. The shah was helpless to stop this newly kindled fire of hatred. -
Shah disagrees with his Clergy and his People
The Shah's policies isolate the clergy, leading to to mass riots, strikes and demonstrations against his ongoing harsh rule. -
Martial Law in Tehran
Shah appointed his General Gholam Ali Oveisi as military governor of the capital city Tehran. Martial law was also implicated on 10 other cities aswell. -
Black Friday
Protesters in Jaleh Square,Tehran, protesting against the Shah and the dynasty were shot down by the Iranian army. an estimated 88 to 300 protesters killed in the masacre, 3 of these women. -
Shah and his Family Exiled
Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and his wife, Emperess Farah, flee Iran to Aswen, Egypt, under the guise of 'vacation' and medical treatment for the ill Shah, amid intensifying unrest. Handing power over to vice president, Shapur Bakhtiar.Their three youngest children were flown to the safety of the United states the day prior (15th January). -
Khomeini returns from exile
78-year-old Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of Iranian revolution, returns from his 14 years of exile in iraq and France. -
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Referendum
On the 30th and 31st of March, the people of Iran voted on whether Iran should become an Islamic Republic, with 98.2% voting in favor. -
Islamic Republic Declared
Ayatollah Khomeini declared an Islamic republic on 1 April 1979 stating it to be the first day of “the government of God.” [Timeline of Irans political events]. Two million Iranians left Iran when the new Islamic government was announced. -
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Khomeini the Supreme leader of Iran
The Iranian public accept Khomeini as the Supreme Leader of Iran. His primary goals in ruling and moving Iran forward was to remove all Western influence from the country and undo all the westernization ideals the Shah had attempted to implant upon Iran. -
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Iranian Hostage Crisis
Iranian Milliants take 90 hostages at the American Embassy, they release all females (under Khomeinis order) and non-americans. Holding the 53 remaining hostages for 444 days. The Students originally demanded the extradition of the Shah from the United States with Khomeinis support. This led to America freezing all of Irans assets, a failed rescue attempt which resulted in the death of 8 US servicemen and a long lasting strain of Iranian and american ties. -
First president of the Islamic Republic elected
Abolhassan Banisadr, former deputy minister of finance and close assosiate of Khomeini, is elected as the first President of the Islamic republic after receiving 78.9% of the vote in the election. -
Shah dies
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi died due to a type of lymphoma cancer
