Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

Iran state institutions Monarchy and royalism 1919.10.26.–1980.7.27. → Died in exile

The last Shah of Iran, who promised a "Great Civilization" on oil revenue and was overthrown by the Islamic Revolution

The eldest son of Reza Shah, Mohammad Reza was born in Tehran and came to the throne in 1941 when the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran forced his father to abdicate. He struggled for power with Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, who nationalised the British-owned oil industry, and after Mosaddegh was overthrown in the 1953 coup with British and American involvement he ruled in an increasingly autocratic way. In 1963 he launched the White Revolution, a programme of land reform and modernisation aimed at a "Great Civilization". Before and after the 1973 embargo Iran pushed hardest in OPEC for higher prices; the surging oil revenue went into a military buildup and state investment but fed inflation, shortages and inequality. Amid the revolution he left Iran on 16 January 1979 and died in exile in Egypt in July 1980, where he had been welcomed by Anwar Sadat.

Also known as: Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi · Muhammad Reza Pahlavi