On Monday, February 1, Iran will start traditional...
Shapour Bakhtiar.- Under the growing pressure, the Shah and the empress had to leave Iran on January 16, 1979. The royal family was granted asylum in Egypt following a denial by the United States.
- Prime Minister Bakhtiar dissolved the Shah"s secret police, released political prisoners, pledged free elections and invited Khomeini supporters to join the national unity government. He later allowed Khomeini, who had been in exile since 1964, to return to Iran.
- Greeted by a welcoming crowd of several million Iranians, Khomeini landed at Tehran airport in a chartered Air France Boeing 747 on February 1. Shortly after his arrival, he made an historical speech at the Behesht-e Zahra cemetery, in which he lashed out at Bakhtiar"s government. Four days later he appointed Mehdi Bazargan as his own competing prime minister.
- Armed clashes between forces loyal to Bakhtiar and pro-Khomeini military groups broke out on February 9 and spread to the whole
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