Iranian revolution completes 40 years

Tehran: It's been 40 years since the Iranian revolution took place. It ended on February 11, 1979. It was a revolution against what the revolutionaries called imperialist rule.

Mohammad Raza Pehlavi, the last Shah of Iran who had America as his main backer, was overthrown by the supporters of Islamic leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini who was in exile in France for 14 years. Khomeini then returned to an euphoric Iran. And overnight a country that subscribed to western values morphed into a hardline Islamic state.

Iranians began rallies in streets across the country to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Beginning from February 1, the ten days in the revolution's remembrance are known as the "Ten Days of Dawn," and ended on February 11.

The anniversary comes as tension between Iran and the United States broadens after US President Donald Trump withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal last May and re-imposed sanctions on Iran in November.

Iranian Revolution had ended a 2,500 years old monarchial rule in Iran.

(With inputs from APTN)