January 16, 1979

Iranian Revolution

Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi leaves Iran for Egypt

Ettela’at compressed the collapse of royal authority into two Persian words set in enormous type: “Shah raft” — the Shah is gone.

Mehrabad Airport, 16 January 1979

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Empress Farah boarded the royal aircraft at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport on 16 January 1979 and left the country, after prime minister Shapour Bakhtiar reported that his government had received parliamentary confidence.

Their three younger children had flown out the previous day. Tehran erupted in public celebration once the departure became known.

A 21-gun salute at Aswan

The couple flew to Aswan, Egypt. President Anwar Sadat met them at the airport with a red carpet, a guard of honour and a 21-gun salute, and escorted them to a secluded hotel on an island in the Nile.

Egypt was the first stop rather than a relocation. They went on to Morocco, the Bahamas, Mexico, the United States and Panama before the shah returned to Egypt near the end of his life.

Leaving is not abdicating

The shah did not abdicate that day, and the monarchy was not abolished. A nine-member regency council had been established to represent him during his absence, and Bakhtiar remained prime minister.

Khomeini was still outside Iran on 16 January; he returned on 1 February, after Bakhtiar’s government had closed the airports and the military had occupied Mehrabad. Bakhtiar’s government fell on 11 February.

Sources

Researched 24 Aug 2026 8 sources not yet audited

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