1978 Attack on the British Embassy and El Al Office in Iran

Name: 1978 Attack on the British Embassy and El Al Office in Iran
Start: 1902-11-05
Location: Unspecified

The Turmoil of 1978: Iranian Discontent

Background to the 1978 Events

In 1978, Iran was engulfed in a wave of social and political unrest. The discontent was primarily directed towards the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who faced increasing opposition from various groups, including Islamic clerics led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Khomeini's followers, who were advocating for an Islamic revolution, saw the influence of Western nations, particularly Britain and the U.S., as detrimental to Iranian sovereignty.

The Role of Khomeini's Followers

Khomeini’s followers, fueled by years of grievance against the Shah’s regime and external influences, began to take more direct action to express their anger. The challenges faced by the government led to growing frustration and protests which often turned violent, culminating in a series of attacks on foreign entities.

The Attack on the British Embassy and El Al Office

Details of the Attack

On February 2, 1978, in a demonstration against the Shah's regime, a group of Khomeini's followers aggressively targeted the British embassy and the El Al airline office in Tehran. This attack was symbolic; it not only conveyed their disapproval of Western involvement in Iranian affairs but also marked a pivotal moment in the escalating tension leading to the eventual Iranian Revolution.

Consequences of the Violence

The violent nature of the attack caused considerable diplomatic strain between Iran and Western nations. The events were widely reported in the international media, bringing further attention to the growing unrest in Iran. It signified the urgency of the situation in Iran and foreshadowed the eventual overthrow of the Shah in 1979, leading to Khomeini’s rise as a significant figure in Iranian politics.

Fun Fact

Khomeini’s Return from Exile

After years of exile, Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran on February 1, 1979, just days after the attack on the embassy, marking a significant historical moment as he became the figurehead of the new Islamic Republic.