How was the Islamic republic established in Iran after the revolution?

Following the 1979 revolution, the Islamic republic was established through a series of decisive political and social maneuvers:

• National Referendum: On April 1, 1979, following overwhelming support in a national referendum, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini officially declared Iran an Islamic republic.12
• Consolidation of Power: Clerical elements systematically excluded former left-wing, nationalist, and intellectual allies from power. Organizations such as the Revolutionary Council and the Islamic Republican Party utilized the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and komītehs (revolutionary committees) to repress political opposition and enforce conservative social codes.12
• Constitutional Framework: The Assembly of Experts, dominated by the clergy, drafted a new constitution based on Khomeini’s vision of velāyat-e faqīh (governance of the jurist). This constitution, which granted sweeping powers to the rahbar (leader), was overwhelmingly approved by referendum.12

The regime further solidified its control by suppressing Western cultural influence and marginalizing moderate figures, such as Mehdi Bazargan and Abolhasan Bani-Sadr, who were eventually forced from office.12