Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi & Princess Farah Dibah (Former Imperial Family of
Iran)
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, (26 October 1919, Tehran – 27 July
1980, Cairo), was the monarch of Iran from 16 September 1941, until his
overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979. He was the second and
last monarch of the House of Pahlavi of the Iranian monarchy. Mohammad Reza
Shah Pahlavi held several imperial titles: His Imperial Majesty, Shahanshah
(King of Kings, Emperor), Aryamehr (Light of the Aryans) and Bozorg Arteshtārān.
The Shah came to power during World War II after an Anglo-Soviet invasion
forced the abdication of his father, Reza Shah. Mohammad Reza Shah's rule
oversaw the nationalization of the Iranian oil industry under the prime
ministership of Mohammad Mossadegh. During the Shah's reign, Iran marked the
anniversary of 2,500 years of continuous monarchy since the founding of the
Persian Empire by Cyrus the Great. His White Revolution, a series of economic
and social reforms intended to transform Iran into a global power, succeeded in
modernizing the nation, nationalizing many natural resources and extending
suffrage to women, among other things. However, the decline of the traditional
power of the Shi'a clergy due to parts of the reforms increased opposition.
While a Muslim himself, the Shah gradually lost support from the Shi'a clergy
of Iran, particularly due to his strong policy of modernization, secularization
and conflict with the traditional class of merchants known as bazaari, and
recognition of Israel. Clashes with the religious right, increased communist
activity and a 1953 period of political disagreements with Mohammad Mossadegh,
eventually leading to Mossadegh's ousting, caused an increasingly autocratic
rule. In 2000, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright stated:
"In 1953 the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the
overthrow of Iran's popular Prime Minister, Mohammed Massadegh. The Eisenhower
Administration believed its actions were justified for strategic reasons; but
the coup was clearly a setback for Iran's political development. And it is easy
to see now why many Iranians continue to resent this intervention by America in
their internal affairs."
Various controversial policies were enacted, including the banning of the Tudeh
Party and a general suppression of political dissent by Iran's intelligence
agency, SAVAK. Amnesty International reported that Iran had as many as 2,200
political prisoners in 1978. By 1979, political unrest had transformed into a
revolution which, on 16 January forced the Shah to leave Iran after 37 years of
rule. Soon thereafter, the revolutionary forces transformed the government into
an Islamic republic.
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