Few geopolitical transformations have been as radical as what happened in Iran in 1979. It’s astonishing to think that, less than 50 years ago, the country was virtually unrecognizable compared to what it is today.

Before the Islamic Revolution, Iran was a pro-Western monarchy governed by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. This regime had started with his father, Reza Pahlavi, who took power in 1926 and even changed the country’s official name from Persia to Iran. The Pahlavi dynasty focused on rapid modernization and rapprochement with the West, which created a society quite different from what we know now.

On the streets of Tehran before 1979, you could see women with makeup, uncovered hair, short skirts. There were bars and casinos operating all night. Pop and rock music played normally, without government approval. All of this would change completely with the arrival of the ayatollahs.

Iran before the revolution also experienced interesting legal advances. In 1963, the so-called White Revolution was launched, a forced modernization program that legalized women's suffrage. Women gained access to universities, and could work as ministers and judges. It seemed like a progressive path, but the reality was more complex.

Because, despite this modernizing appearance, the Shah’s regime was a brutal dictatorship. There was no freedom of press, expression, or real political opposition. Opponents were detained by Savak, the secret police, where they suffered torture and execution. In rural areas, entire populations lived excluded economically and socially. This contradiction between urban modernization and political repression fueled discontent.

Discontent mainly exploded due to forced Westernization, rampant corruption, absurd inequality, and authoritarianism. In 1979, the population rose up and overthrew the regime. In its place, the Islamic Republic was established under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who became the Supreme Leader with total control over the Armed Forces and the three branches of government.

From the perspective of someone observing historical transformations, it’s fascinating to see how different Iran was before the revolution. Family Protection Laws that guaranteed rights for women were all repealed. The country adopted a