Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYK0BJZF3yNb2fw1EdAXUQ/join What set off the final uprisings of the Iranian Revolution, against the last Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi? Would President Jimmy Carter and America back the Shah’s forbidding opponent, the firebrand, Ayatollah Khomeini? And, why would the Revolution prove to be one of the most pivotal events in recent history? Join Dominic and Tom, as they discuss the final fall of Iran’s last Shah, America’s response, and the rising power of the revolutionary Ayatollah Khomeini, and his radical new vision for the governance of Iran… Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Social channels: https://www.instagram.com/theresthistory/ https://www.tiktok.com/@theresthistory https://x.com/TheRestHistory https://bsky.app/profile/theresthistory.bsky.social https://www.threads.com/@theresthistory 00:00 Cold open 02:58 Khomeini Muharram message 04:10 Why this message is pivotal + the three main characters (Shah / Khomeini / Jimmy Carter) 07:02 Revolution mechanics 09:10 Could brutal repression have worked? 10:13 Shah’s “too little, too late” TV apology 12:17 Washington turf war 14:16 What is Khomeini up to? 19:22 Core doctrine: velayat-e faqih (“guardianship of the jurist”) — conservative and revolutionary 23:33 Why vagueness helps 24:13 Appeal to the Western left 28:06 US split explodes 33:15 Last roll of the dice 35:16 19 Jan 1979 37:13 1 Feb 1979 39:18 Anti-foreigner rhetoric + Iranian nationalism vs pure “Islamism” framing 40:41 Cemetery speech: “I shall appoint my own government” 43:14 Revolutionary Council + Bazargan appointed 45:46 The army question: desertions, weapons seizures; 11 Feb neutrality declaration → revolution triumphs 46:57 US advisers briefly captured; Brzezinski demands a coup; Sullivan’s furious refusal 48:03 US domestic angle: Kissinger blames “do-gooders”; businesses’ losses; oil panic 50:34 Oil price jump + inflation politics; why Iran becomes electorally toxic for Carter 52:42 Carter’s energy sermonising style; April 1979 address (drive less, take the bus) 54:30 Gas lines/odd-even rationing; rising chaos and conspiracy theories 56:29 Levittown riots — gas crisis turns violent 57:30 Carter’s “spiritual malaise” retreat; intellectual advisers; leads to July “crisis of confidence” speech 01:01:20 Purge of cabinet + approval collapse; “Malaise speech” legacy + Simpsons gag Video Editor: Jack Meek Social Producer: Harry Balden Producers: Aaliyah Akude & Tabby Syrett Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Head of Digital & Social: Sam Oakley