Forty years ago, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini spearheaded an Islamic Revolution that deposed Iran's shah. The country's authoritarian monarchy was replaced by a repressive theocracy, and almost overnight, Iran was transformed from a crucial U.S. ally to bitter foe.
In Pictures: Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution
21
Khomeini with his son, Ahmad, addressing crowds on February 4, 1979.
22
Heavily guarded by security, Mehdi Bazargan makes a speech at Tehran University on February 9, 1979. Bazargan was Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's choice to take over Iran's government. Bazargan declared he would introduce Allah to all phases of Iranian life, revamp the economy, and hold free elections before resigning to make way for an Islamic regime.
23
An ambulance passes sandbag roadblocks in Tehran to pick up the wounded from street clashes on February 10, 1979. A shootout between the army, air force cadets, and Khomeini followers left more than 60 people dead and hundreds injured.
24
Armed men loyal to the Ayatollah stand in front of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on February 15, 1979, a day after the compound was stormed. The embassy was briefly held for a few hours before being handed back to the United States. A second attempt to seize the U.S. Embassy would be made in November, leading to a 444-day hostage crisis.