In the early 20th century, Iran was ruled by the Pahlavi Dynasty, with Mohammad Reza Shah being the last reigning monarch. As the Shah, he was known for his ambitious modernization plans and westernization policies, which, while modernizing Iran, also led to widespread discontent due to perceived cultural erosion. By the late 1970s, the dissatisfaction erupted into a revolution. The Iranian Revolution, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, was a significant event that transitioned Iran from a monarchy to an Islamic Republic. This change not only altered Iran's political and social structure but also its relations with other nations, notably the United States and the United Kingdom. The U.S. and U.K. had enjoyed close ties with Iran during the Shah's reign, largely due to strategic oil interests. However, the revolution strained these relationships, leading to decades of tensions that continue to this day. This period of Iran's history serves as an intriguing example of how rapidly a nation's trajectory can shift, shaped by internal dynamics and international politics.