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In 1979, as the Iranian Revolution reached its climax, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to Iran from exile, marking a pivotal moment in the nation's history. For several months leading up to his return, Khomeini had been living in France, specifically in the village of Neauphle-le-Chรขteau near Paris. His journey to France followed earlier periods of exile in Turkey and then Iraq, from which he was compelled to leave in October 1978 due to pressure exerted by the Shah's regime on the Iraqi government.
While in France, Khomeini found a more permissive environment that allowed him to freely communicate his revolutionary messages to his supporters in Iran through various media, including cassette tapes and phone calls. This period proved crucial in galvanizing the opposition against the Shah. His triumphant return to Tehran on February 1, 1979, just two weeks after Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi had fled Iran, signaled the collapse of the monarchy and the impending establishment of the Islamic Republic.
Meanwhile, the deposed Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, embarked on a difficult period of exile, seeking refuge in various countries. After leaving Iran in January 1979, he traveled to nations such as Egypt, Morocco, the Bahamas, Mexico, and the United States, primarily for medical treatment for his cancer. Facing demands for his extradition back to Iran, the Shah eventually found permanent asylum in Egypt, where he was welcomed by President Anwar Sadat. It was in Cairo, Egypt, that the Shah ultimately passed away in July 1980.
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