Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, also known as the Shah of Iran, ruled for nearly 40 years. His departure from Iran on January 16, 1979, marked a tumultuous upheaval in the Middle East and led to a new threat to Israel's existence.¹

Under the Shah, Iran maintained good relations with "moderate pro-American Arab countries" such as Egypt, Jordan, and the Emirates. However, by 1978, his rule was threatened by widespread discontent due to extreme corruption, skyrocketing prices, and the failure of his White Revolution to address food production issues. The infrastructure of Tehran was also unable to handle the traffic, leading to public frustration.¹

Israeli intelligence, particularly Ari Ben-Menashe, warned of an impending revolution and the Shah's imminent overthrow as early as 1978. These warnings were dismissed by U.S. analysts, who misread the threat to his rule. In December 1978, the CIA and SAVAK (Iranian secret police) enlisted Israeli aid in a plan to assassinate Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, but the Shah rejected it, fearing further bloodshed.¹

After his departure, the Shah's Regency and Supreme Military Councils were unable to function, and Shahpour Bakhtiar, his last prime minister, proved helpless. Khomeini arrived in Iran on February 1, 1979, and declared Iran an Islamic republic on April 1. The Israeli Embassy in Tehran was subsequently handed over to the PLO.¹