How did the shah respond to the growing protests in 1978?

In 1978, as protests against his regime intensified, the shah—who was weakened by cancer and stunned by the sudden hostility—vacillated between concession and repression. He initially viewed the demonstrations as part of an international conspiracy against him.12

The government’s response was characterized by a cycle of violence: security forces killed protesters, which in turn fueled further demonstrations, particularly as the deaths were commemorated during the traditional 40-day mourning periods in Shiʿi tradition. As the unrest continued to grow, the regime imposed martial law in September 1978, and troops opened fire on demonstrators in Tehran, resulting in numerous casualties. Despite these efforts, the protests persisted and expanded, eventually leading to the shah’s departure from Iran in January 1979.12