1977 Uprising:
a. Bloody Friday (September 8, 1978): Police and military brutality killed hundreds while peacefully commemorating anti-Shah martyrs.
1978 Uprisings:
a. Tabriz, Shiraz, Isfahan uprisings followed Bloody Friday with more deaths. Political unrest escalated.
b. General strike at Iran's oil refinery (December 1 -7) nearly halted economic activity, causing oil exports to collapse, and a critical blow to the regime.
1979 Revolution & Khomeini’s Return:
a. Mass pro-Khomeini protests on January 7.
b. Ayatollah Khomeini flew in from Paris as crowds flooded the streets.
c. General Abbas Gharabaghi declared military neutrality; the Air Force pledged the same to Khomeini.
d. The Shah imposed curfew to quell protests but withdrew due to ineffective tactics against people’s protests.
e. On February 11 at 9:43 pm, the national radio officially broadcasted the victory message: “The Shah fled... the revolutionary forces occupy all the sensitive and military centers.”
f. On February 12, Ayatollah Khomeini, now in possession of Tehran, officially returned from Paris aboard an Air France flight along with 151 companions.
The Iranian Revolution, which was successful due to popular uprisings, strikes, military neutrality, and eventually the Shah's departure, paved the way for Ayatollah Khomeini to come into power, transforming Iran into an Islamic Republic that embraced both religious governance and the notion of political representation.