In January 1979, Shah Pahlavi was forced to leave Iran. In February, Supreme Leader Khomeini arrived in Tehran by plane after 15 years in exile. When asked by reporters how he felt about ending his exile, Khomeini replied nonchalantly in Persian, "Hichi" (nothing). Some interpreted this as a sign of his indifference to Iran, while others interpreted it as prioritizing religious beliefs over personal feelings. Regardless of the interpretation, Khomeini failed to exude the anticipated excitement, instead revealing a dogmatic and principled approach that was about to be fully revealed.
Many people have likely seen images and footage of Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution and have been struck by the Westernized, open society, bustling streets, and women without headscarves. These images, almost unrecognizable as Iranian, were the result of the "White Revolution" implemented by the Shah of Iran, which included reforms such as increased literacy and the granting of suffrage to women. Of course, the Shah's modernization efforts were not without controversy; his land reforms, the establishment of a secret police, and his close ties with Britain and the United States were all criticized. However, the greatest driving force behind the revolution came from the Islamic clergy themselves. Unlike the Xinhai Revolution, which overthrew the monarchy, or the anti-legal reform movement, the Iranian Revolution abolished the constitutional monarchy, turning the clock back centuries.
