Yet for many, his words carried little weight. Almost immediately after his departure, millions of people poured into the streets. Some celebrated openly, viewing the moment as the end of decades of autocratic rule. Others, particularly those connected to the monarchy or fearful of political chaos, felt deep anxiety about what would come next.
The Shah’s exit fundamentally altered the balance of power in Iran. With the monarchy effectively leaderless, revolutionary forces gained momentum. Just two weeks later, on February 1, 1979, Khomeini returned from exile to an extraordinary. His arrival galvanized the revolutionary movement and further weakened the remaining structures of the old regime. Within days, the Bakhtiar government collapsed, and the monarchy formally came to an end. By April 1979, following a national referendum, was declared an Islamic Republic.
