Feature Return of the Ayatollah: Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini became a lightning rod for the mass protests which overthrew the Shah of Iran in 1979, but the causes of the Iranian Revolution lay elsewhere. Siavush Randjbar-Daemi | Published in History Today Volume 69 Issue 4 April 2019 To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5. Start my trial subscription now If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems. Iran Related Articles Iran and the ‘Old Enemy’ Iran: Britain’s Cold War Crucible Popular articles ‘Who Really Wrote the Bible’ by William M. Schniedewind review Why Do Religions Decline?