DW DocumentaryDW History and Culture | Following the death of Ayatollah Khamenei and the outbreak of war in Iran in February 2026, understanding the country’s turbulent history is more vital than ever. Iran’s Revolution in 1978/79 changed the Middle East forever. Discover how Iran went from a modern, pro-Western country led by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to the strict Islamic Republic ruled by Ayatollah Khomeini. In this documentary, we trace the journey from the CIA-backed coup in 1953, through the mass protests and uprising of 1978/1979, to the Mullahs’ takeover after the fall of the Shah.
Why do millions of Iranians still protest today? Why has the name of exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi resurfaced as a symbol of resistance against the regime of today? Why does modern Iran still have to fight for democracy? This documentary also touches upon women’s rights, hijab laws, and the tragic death of Mahsa Amini. Hear firsthand stories from Iranian-American writer @HakakianRoya who grew up in Tehran, and historian Ali Ansari from @universityofstandrews whose family directly experienced the Shah’s fall. We explain:
- The role of the CIA and MI6 in shaping Iranian history
- How Ayatollah Khomeini outmanoeuvred secular revolutionaries, leftists, and moderate voices
- What the 444-day US embassy hostage crisis meant for Iran-US relations
- How Iranian women lost rights their grandmothers once had and why they’re fighting for them again
Credits: SCRIPT & PRODUCER: Ricarda Otte HOST: David Levitz EDIT: Mariano Ramírez Gisbert SUPERVISING EDITOR: Susanne Spröer EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Sarah Hofmann, Melanie von Marschalck
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
4:54 A Short-Lived Dynasty: The two Pahlavis
7:39 Oil: A Blessing or a Curse?
9:42 Kermit’s Coup
13:06 The White Revolution and its Discontents
15:35 Enter the Ayatollah
19:11 The Shah’s Napoleon Moment
21:54 The Beginning of the End
27:10 The Tipping Point
29:52 Hostages for 444 Days
35:24 The Revolutions’s Broken Promises
