grip on the nation he ruled. To some extent, he in fact played the
tyrant’s role of which Khomeini accused him. For example, the
shah decided certain matters that should have been legislated
by the Majlis. His government kept a heavy hand on political
opposition, on the media, on commerce, and on education.
Those in positions of power under the shah likewise ignored
the sentiments of others and handled matters as they pleased,
sometimes infuriating the population.
More and more Iranians wanted major changes to take place.
But how could they make that happen? Changes could not come
through appeals to the royal court. Therefore, the people turned
their gaze to Iraq, where a defiant member of Iran’s religious
leadership was living in exile, advocating a new Iran that would
have no shah at its head.
Shah Pahlavi’s Quest for Glory 33