The Rise and Fall of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi: How the Last Monarch of Iran Shaped a Nation Amidst Modernization and Turmoil

The concentration of power in the hands of the Shah and his government further alienated segments of society. Political dissent was systematically suppressed, and political parties were banned, leading to an environment of fear and repression. The SAVAK, Iran's secret police, became notorious for its brutal tactics in silencing opposition.