In the 1970s, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, aspired to transform the country into a “Great Civilization,” marked by economic growth and modern development. He envisioned that by 1990, Iran would rival the progress of Western Europe and, by the century’s end, compete with nations such as France and the United Kingdom. At the same time, he voiced concerns about the possible rise of an Islamic regime, warning that it could undo Iran’s modernization and usher in greater repression. These

Reza Shah Pahlavi: A Historical Perspective