The Iranian revolution of 1979 quickly transformed from a popular uprising against a tyrant into a religious dictatorship led by Ruhollah Khomeini. Khomeini consolidated power by eliminating opponents, winning 99% of the vote for a new constitution that gave him unlimited authority as supreme leader. He purged universities, newspapers, and other institutions of "un-Islamic" elements and ordered executions of over 1,600 people who opposed the new regime by 1981. In November 1979, Iranian protesters also overran the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took hostages, only releasing them in January 1981 after demands from Khomeini were met.

1. Iran 1979 revolution From one tyrant to the next.

2. Peace full? I think not!

8. The beginning of a long Regime Iran's 1979 revolution was quickly hijacked by right winged clerics who quickly created a constitution giving power to a religious supreme leader.

9. Khomeini became faqih, or definitive leader, and used his unlimited powers to eliminate opponents. When he won 99% of a vote for a new constitution, there was nothing to stop him from obtaining supreme dictatorship . Khomeini also proceeded with a purge of all “un-Islamic” elements from universities, newspapers, and other social aspects of the country.

10. Death by a firing squad was ordered to any one who opposed the revolution.

17. By 1981 some 1,600 people had been executed under Khomeini’s regime.

18. 1979 Hostage Situation In November 1979 hundreds of Iranians overran the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took the staff hostage.

20. Khomeini refused to release the hostages until the United States of America apologized for its’ support of the Shah, and met several other of Khomeini’s demands.

23. The hostages were finally released in January 1981 after Ronald Reagan took office presiding over Jimmy Carter as president.