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Abstract
There are plenty of myths about the causes of the Iranian Revolution of 1979. The 1973-1974 rise in the price of crude enabled the Shah to finance his modernisation programme, but as it began to falter, dissent increased. The death of Khomeini's sons made things worse, but it was a fire in a cinema in Abadan which sparked major demonstrations. A new Prime Minister was installed but he failed to get a grip on the situation and Khomeini, by then in France, emerged as the leading opposition figure. The situation steadily deteriorated culminating in the Shah's departure in January 1979 and the melting away of the power of the army. The strategic and other consequences of the revolution were very serious. But that is another story.