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Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

Last monarch of Iran

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, known as Mohammad Reza Shah, was the last monarch of Iran. He implemented reforms and modernization efforts, but was overthrown in the 1979 Iranian Revolution, leading to the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Pahlavi's reign saw economic growth and significant investments in infrastructure, education, and military. He went into exile in 1979 and died in Egypt.

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Mohammad MossadeghRuhollah KhomeiniIranian RevolutionMahmoud AhmadinejadEbrahim RaisiMShirin EbadiAli KhameneiIslamic Revolutionary Guard CorpsMuhammadGamal Abdel Nasser

Timeline

1919-10-26
Birth of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, also known as Mohammad Reza Shah, was born on October 26, 1919 in Tehran, Iran. He later became the last Shah of Iran, ruling from 1941 until his overthrow in 1979.
1925
Nationalisation under Pahlavi Rule
The Pahlavi rule was instrumental in Iran's nationalisation in line with Persian culture and language, achieved through the official ban on the use of minority languages and suppression of separatist movements.
1926-04-24
Mohammad Reza Proclaimed Crown Prince
At his father's coronation on 24 April 1926, Mohammad Reza was proclaimed Crown Prince.
1931-09-07
Mohammad Reza's Education at Institut Le Rosey
At the age of 11, Mohammad Reza was sent to Institut Le Rosey, a Swiss boarding school, for further studies. He developed a lifelong love for all things French during his time there.
1933
Anglo-Persian Oil Company Agreement
Mohammad Reza had serious misgivings about the agreement his father negotiated with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company in 1933. This agreement compromised Iran's ability to receive more favorable returns from its oil resources.
1941-09-16
Reza Shah abdicates and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi becomes king
On 16 September 1941, Reza Shah abdicated the throne and was replaced by his son Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, following the British and Soviet invasion of Iran.
1941-09-19
General Amnesty Issued
A general amnesty was issued on September 19, 1941, two days after Mohammad Reza's accession to the throne. This led to the rehabilitation of political personalities who had suffered disgrace during his father's reign and the overturning of the forced unveiling policy.
1943
Humiliation by Joseph Stalin
During the Tehran conference in 1943, the Shah was humiliated by Joseph Stalin when the Red Army alone guarded the Marble Palace during Stalin's visit, not allowing the Shah's bodyguards to be present.
1946-12-11
Iranian Army entering Iranian Azerbaijan
On 11 December 1946, the Iranian Army led by the Shah entered Iranian Azerbaijan, leading to the collapse of the Pishevari regime with little resistance.
1949-02-04
Assassination attempt on Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
On 4 February 1949, an unsuccessful assassination attempt was made on the Shah during a ceremony, with the perpetrator being linked to the Tudeh Party.
1953-07-29
Princess Ashraf berates Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Princess Ashraf, the twin sister of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, visited him to pressure him into signing a decree dismissing Mossadegh. She was known for her tough demeanor and public questioning of her brother's manhood.
1953-08-01
Kermit Roosevelt meets Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Kermit Roosevelt met with Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to explain the mission of the CIA plot to overthrow Mossadegh. The Shah was bribed with $1 million in Iranian currency to support the coup.
1953-08-16
Failed coup attempt in Iran
A right wing faction of the Iranian Army, with the Shah's order, attempted a coup against Mossadegh but failed. This led to the Shah fleeing the country temporarily.
1953-08-19
Overthrow of Mohammad Mossadegh in Iran
Under the direction of Kermit Roosevelt Jr., the CIA and British SIS funded and led a covert operation to depose Mossadegh as prime minister of Iran. The operation, known as Operation Ajax, involved military forces disloyal to the government and resulted in the installation of General Fazlollah Zahedi as the new prime minister.
1954
Death of Ali Reza
Ali Reza, the full brother of Mohammad Reza Shah, was his heir presumptive until his death in 1954.
1955
Cultivation of Left-Wing Intellectuals and Embrace of Progressive Image
Starting in 1955, Mohammad Reza began to cultivate left-wing intellectuals and embraced the image of a 'progressive' Shah, aiming to modernize Iran and introduce socio-economic reforms.
1958-02-27
Thwarting of Military Coup led by General Valiollah Gharani
A military coup led by General Valiollah Gharani in February 1958 was thwarted, leading to a crisis in Iranian-American relations and suspicions regarding U.S. commitment to Iran's defense.
1960
Involvement in the U.S. presidential election
In the 1960 U.S. presidential election, the Shah favored Republican candidate Richard Nixon and contributed money to his campaign. Relations with the eventual winner, Democrat John F. Kennedy, were strained.
1961-03-01
Diplomatic efforts with Kennedy administration
In an attempt to mend relations with President Kennedy after Nixon's defeat, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi sent General Teymur Bakhtiar to meet Kennedy in Washington. However, Bakhtiar's request for American support in a coup plan heightened the Shah's fears about Kennedy.
1963
White Revolution in Iran
In 1963, Mohammad Reza Shah implemented the White Revolution, a reform program that included land reform, extension of voting rights to women, and elimination of illiteracy.
1964-08
Ayatollah Khomeini exiled to Iraq
In August 1964, Ayatollah Khomeini was exiled to Iraq after emerging as a leader in protests against Mohammad Reza's rule, particularly in the holy city of Qom.
1965-04-10
Second assassination attempt on Shah Mohammad Reza
On 10 April 1965, a soldier attempted to assassinate Shah Mohammad Reza by shooting his way through the Marble Palace, but was killed before reaching the royal quarters.
1967-10-26
Coronation of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was officially crowned as the Shah of Iran on October 26, 1967, in a ceremony that marked the formal beginning of his reign.
1970
Iran-Libya Alliance for Higher Oil Prices
Mohammad Reza Shah formed an alliance with Colonel Gaddafi of Libya to press for higher oil prices for their nations. This collaboration aimed to strengthen their respective economies through increased oil revenues.
1971-10
Celebration of 2,500 years of Persian monarchy
In October 1971, Mohammad Reza celebrated 2,500 years of continuous Persian monarchy since the founding of the Achaemenid Empire by Cyrus the Great. The celebration included changing the Iranian calendar benchmark to the beginning of the First Persian Empire and a grand parade at Persepolis.
1972-05-07
Iran-Iraq Relations under Mohammad Reza Shah
Mohammad Reza Shah informed President Nixon about Soviet Union's influence in the Middle East through Iraq, leading to Nixon's support for Iran against Iraq. The Shah financed Kurdish rebels in Iraq with Soviet weapons seized by Israel, but later signed the Algiers Accord in 1975, ending support for the rebels.
1973-12
Iran's Oil Price Manipulation
After the 1973 oil embargo, the Shah of Iran increased oil production to take advantage of higher prices. He urged OPEC nations to further raise prices, leading to a 470% increase over a year and boosting Iran's GDP by 50%.
1974-02-03
Mohammad Reza's Declaration to Der Spiegel
In an interview with Der Spiegel, Mohammad Reza declared that Iran's actions were not just to take vengeance on the West and expressed the desire for Iran to be a member of the Western club.
1974-12-02
Tamaddon-e-Bozorg - The Great Civilisation
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi aimed to establish a 'Great Civilisation' in Iran, a concept that gained attention in the West. The Shah's vision was seen as a turning point in Iran's history and the world's.
1976
Nationalism at the Imperial Court
The wealth generated by Iran's oil in the 1970s led to a sense of nationalism at the Imperial Court. Iranians, previously looked down upon, were now courted and admired by Westerners seeking Iran's largesse.
1977-12-31
Shah's welcome disrupted by protests at the White House
During a visit to Washington, the Shah's reception at the White House is interrupted by Iranian student protests and police use tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.
1978-01-06
Ettela’at publishes editorial disparaging Ayatollah Khomeini
On January 6, 1978, Iranian newspaper Ettela’at published a front-page editorial that criticized Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The editorial was reportedly written by the royal court under the Shah's directive.
1978-10-02
Shah grants general amnesty to dissidents
On October 2, 1978, the Shah granted a general amnesty to dissidents living abroad, including Ayatollah Khomeini, in an attempt to calm the situation amidst extreme unrest and open opposition to the monarchy.
1978-11-05
Mohammad Reza promises major reforms on TV
On November 5, 1978, Mohammad Reza went on Iranian television to acknowledge the voice of the revolution and promised major reforms in response to the escalating situation.
1979-01-16
Mohammad Reza Shah leaves Iran
Mohammad Reza Shah made a contract with Farboud and left Iran at the behest of Prime Minister Shapour Bakhtiar, who sought to calm the situation. As he boarded the plane, many Imperial Guardsmen wept while Bakhtiar showed disdain for the Shah. This event marked the beginning of the dissolution of the Pahlavi dynasty.
1979-01-17
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Exiled
Facing increasing political unrest and protests in Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi left the country for exile on 17 January 1979. This marked the beginning of the end of his rule as the Shah of Iran.
1979-02-11
Overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, was overthrown by the Iranian Revolution on February 11, 1979. This event marked the end of his rule and the beginning of a new era in Iran.
1979-10-22
Shah Mohammad Reza's Medical Treatment in the United States
In October 1979, President Jimmy Carter allowed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to enter the United States for medical treatment, using a false name and facing opposition from Iranian students. His stay was extended due to surgical complications, contributing to the Iran hostage crisis.
1979-12-15
Shah Mohammad Reza's Departure from the United States to Panama
In December 1979, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi left the United States and briefly stayed in Isla Contadora, Panama. His presence in Panama caused riots among the locals, and he was kept as a virtual prisoner by General Omar Torrijos.
1980-07-27
Overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, commonly known as the Shah, was overthrown by the 1979 Iranian Revolution, leading to the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This event marked the end of the Pahlavi dynasty's rule in Iran.
2011-05-22
Brzezinski's Involvement in Shah's Overthrow
An article on Payvand News highlighted Zbigniew Brzezinski's role in the overthrow of the Shah in Iran.
End of the Timeline
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

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