Why in news?

Protests that erupted in Iran in late December over rising inflation and economic distress have turned deadly, with at least 42 deaths reported by January 9. While authorities acknowledge economic hardships, they have responded with a strong crackdown on dissent.

The unrest has created political space for Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Living in exile, Pahlavi has sought to position himself as a rallying figure amid the turmoil.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Origins of the Pahlavi Dynasty
• Iran under Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
• 1979 Islamic Revolution

Origins of the Pahlavi Dynasty

• Reza Shah Pahlavi, grandfather of Reza Pahlavi, rose from a military background and seized power in 1925 after a coup against Ahmad Shah Qajar.
• His takeover occurred amid imperial pressures, with Britain and Russia vying for influence in Iran.
• Foreign Influence and Economic Concessions
  • Iran’s vulnerability was underscored by sweeping concessions to foreign powers.
  • In 1872, a British company secured extensive industrial and mineral rights from the Qajar dynasty—later criticised by Lord Curzon as an unprecedented surrender of national resources.
  • Though revoked, the episode highlighted Iran’s subjugation to external interests.
• Abdication and Wartime Upheaval
  • Reza Shah abdicated in 1941 after Allied forces invaded Iran, citing its ties with Germany.
  • This shifted national sentiment toward democratic leadership and sovereignty.
• Mossadegh and the Oil Nationalisation Drive
  • Mohammed Mossadegh, a Western-educated jurist, became Prime Minister (1951–1953) and championed nationalising Iran’s oil to benefit its people.
  • His stance antagonised Western powers, particularly Britain, which had controlled Iranian oil through the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (later British Petroleum).
• The 1953 Coup and Restoration of the Shah
  • Fearing loss of strategic and economic interests, Britain—with US backing—engineered regime change in 1953.
  • Mossadegh was arrested, and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was restored to power, entrenching the Pahlavi monarchy under Western support.

Iran under Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

• Mohammad Reza Pahlavi pursued social and economic modernisation, but his rule remained authoritarian.
• A key instrument of repression was SAVAK, the secret police notorious for surveillance, arrests, and torture of dissidents.
• Independent political and civic institutions were not allowed to function.
  • As noted by historians, political parties, unions, student groups, and civic organisations were suppressed, forcing dissent into mosques and giving the opposition a growing religious character.
• Rise of Mass Protests and Collapse of Monarchy
  • By the 1970s, widespread dissatisfaction culminated in protests involving diverse groups, from communists to Islamists.
  • Despite harsh crackdowns, sustained agitation weakened the regime’s hold on power.
  • In 1979, the Shah and his family fled Iran.
  • A referendum soon after established an Islamic Republic with Ayatollah Khomeini as Supreme Leader.
  • While the new regime promised change, it soon mirrored many authoritarian practices of the past, compounded by religious fundamentalism.

1979 Islamic Revolution

• The 1979 Islamic Revolution overthrew the monarchy of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, ending over five decades of Pahlavi rule in Iran.
• Context and Causes
  • The revolution was not a single event but a culmination of decade-long grievances against Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
    • Political Autocracy: The Shah ruled as a secular dictator, suppressing dissent through his brutal secret police, SAVAK.
    • The "White Revolution": Launched in 1963, these were aggressive modernization and land reforms. While intended to modernize Iran, they alienated the traditional Ulema (clergy) and the rural peasantry.
    • Westernization & Cultural Identity: Rapid Western-style modernization was perceived as "Westoxification" (Gharbzadegi), undermining Iran's Islamic and cultural fabric.
    • Economic Disparities: Despite high oil revenues, the gap between the rich (elite) and the poor (urban working class/migrant peasants) widened, fueled by corruption and inflation.
    • Foreign Influence: The Shah was seen as a "puppet" of the US, especially after the 1953 CIA-backed coup that ousted the democratically elected PM Mohammad Mossadegh.
• Key Events of the Revolution (1978–1979)
• Jan 1978: Protests ignited in Qom after a state-sponsored article insulted Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who was in exile.
• Black Friday (Sept 1978): Security forces fired on protesters in Tehran’s Jaleh Square, leading to massive casualties and making the revolution irreversible.
• Shah’s Departure: On January 16, 1979, the Shah fled Iran for Egypt.
• Khomeini’s Return: On February 1, 1979, Khomeini returned from exile to a rapturous welcome.
• Proclamation of the Republic: On April 1, 1979, following a national referendum, Iran was declared an Islamic Republic.
• Post-Revolutionary Governance: Velayat-e Faqih
  • The new political system was based on Khomeini’s doctrine of "Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist":
    • Theocracy + Democracy: It blended republican elements (Parliament/Majlis, President) with theocratic ones (Supreme Leader, Guardian Council).
    • Sovereignty: Unlike Western democracies where sovereignty lies with the people, here it is derived from Divine Will, interpreted by the Supreme Leader.