Western nations, particularly the United States and European countries, had close ties with the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was overthrown during the revolution. The West expressed concerns about the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and the potential spread of anti-Western sentiment in the region. The hostage crisis at the U.S. embassy in Tehran, where 52 Americans were held captive for 444 days, further strained relations between Iran and the West. Overall, the West viewed the Iranian Revolution as a significant geopolitical event that could potentially have far-reaching consequences for the region and international relations.
