Breaking History The Making of Modern Iran (Part 2) | The Red-Green Alliance
Jan 14, 2026
Join historian Abbas Milani, director of Iranian studies at Stanford, as he dives into the pivotal moments leading to Iran's 1979 revolution. He explores Ayatollah Khomeini's evolution from exile in France to revolutionary leader, examining the complex Red-Green Alliance between Islamists and leftists. Milani also discusses Khomeini's use of media, the West's romanticization of him, and the immediate consequences of his rise, including the clampdown on rights and the export of revolution across the Middle East.
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Exile Can Amplify Revolutionary Power
- Ayatollah Khomeini ended 2,500 years of Persian monarchy from exile in Paris by mobilizing domestic networks and Western media access.
- His rise shows how dispersed communication and international legitimacy can amplify an outsider leader into power.
Anti-Imperialism As A Unifying Frame
- Khomeini framed his movement as anti-imperialist and linked it to the Palestinian cause to attract broad support.
- Demonizing Israel and Western influence helped him win both domestic followers and Western leftist sympathy.
Pakravan's Lunches With Khomeini
- SAVAK director Hassan Pakravan treated Khomeini with dignity and even lunched weekly with him in 1963 to divert him from politics.
- Pakravan later paid with his life after the revolution despite his earlier restraint and dialogue.
