Introduction

Abstract

The 1979 revolution came about at a time when the Shah’s regime was considered abroad to be one of the most stable governments in the Middle East. So, the world looked on in astonishment when Iran erupted into revolution, and 2500 years of monarchy was brought to an end by an almost unknown religious leader. The collapse of the Shah’s regime was watched helplessly by the US administration in particular, whose backing could no longer keep one of its major allies in the region in power. The revolution thus ended half a century of US influence in the country.