Editing History of Iran (section)

=== Revolution and the Islamic Republic (1979 to present) ===
{{Main|Iranian Revolution|History of the Islamic Republic of Iran}}
[[File:Imam Khomeini in Mehrabad.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|Ayatollah [[Khomeini]] returns to Iran after 14 years exile in France on 1 February 1979.]]

The Iranian Revolution, also known as the Islamic Revolution,<ref name = "Chamber">{{Cite web|title=History of Iran: Islamic Revolution of 1979|url=https://www.iranchamber.com/history/islamic_revolution/islamic_revolution.php|access-date=2023-03-16|website=www.iranchamber.com}}</ref> was the [[revolution]] that transformed Iran from an absolute [[Pahlavi dynasty|monarchy]] under [[Shah]] [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]] to an [[Islamic republic]] under [[Ayatollah]] [[Ruhollah Khomeini]], one of the leaders of the revolution and founder of the Islamic Republic.<ref name = "Britannica"/> Its time span can be said to have begun in January 1978 with the first major demonstrations,<ref>{{Cite web
|year=2018|orig-date=1998|title=The Iranian Revolution|url=http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch29ir.html|access-date=2023-03-16|last = Smitha | first = Frank E.
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010233759/http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch29ir.html |archive-date=2016-10-10
}}</ref> and concluded with the approval of the new [[theocratic]] Constitution—whereby Ayatollah Khomeini became [[Supreme Leader of Iran|Supreme Leader]] of the country—in December 1979.<ref name="Britannica Khomeini">{{Cite encyclopaedia
| url = https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ruhollah-Khomeini
| title= Ruhollah Khomeini
| encyclopedia= Britannica
| last = Afari | first = Janet
| date= 19 May 2023
| access-date= 2023-05-21
}}</ref>

In between, [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]] left the country for exile in January 1979 after strikes and demonstrations paralyzed the country, and on 1 February 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Tehran.<ref name="Britannica Khomeini"/> The final collapse of the Pahlavi dynasty occurred shortly after on 11 February when Iran's military declared itself "neutral" after guerrillas and rebel troops overwhelmed troops loyal to the Shah in armed street fighting. Iran officially became an Islamic Republic on 1 April 1979, after Iranians overwhelmingly approved a [[1979 Iranian Islamic Republic referendum|national referendum]] to make it so a day before.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/ebi/article-202892 Iran Islamic Republic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060316040030/https://www.britannica.com/ebi/article-202892 |date=2006-03-16 }}, Encyclopædia Britannica.</ref>

==== Ideology of the 1979 Iranian Revolution ====
{{Further|Ideology of the Iranian Revolution}}

The ideology of the revolutionary government was populist, nationalist and most of all [[Shia Islam|Shi'a Islamic]]. Its unique constitution is based on the concept of ''[[Islamic Government|velayat-e faqih]]'' the idea advanced by Khomeini that Muslims – in fact everyone – requires "guardianship", in the form of rule or supervision by the leading [[Faqih|Islamic jurist]] or jurists.<ref>Dabashi, ''Theology of Discontent'' (1993), p.419, 443</ref> Khomeini served as this ruling jurist, or [[Supreme Leader of Iran|supreme leader]], until his death in 1989.

Iran's rapidly modernising, capitalist economy was replaced by populist and Islamic economic and cultural policies. Much industry was [[nationalized]], laws and schools Islamicized, and Western influences banned.

The Islamic revolution also created great impact around the world. In the non-Muslim world it has changed the image of Islam, generating much interest in the politics and spirituality of Islam,<ref>Shawcross, William, ''The Shah's Last Ride'' (1988), p. 110.</ref> along with "fear and distrust towards Islam" and particularly the Islamic Republic and its founder.<ref name=nasr>{{cite book
| last = Nasr
| first = Vali
| title=The Shia Revival
| publisher= W.W. Norton | year=2007
| isbn =  978-0-393-06640-1
| page =138}}</ref>