Wednesday January 31, 1979, Neauphle-le-chateau, France

The Ayatollah Khomeini

Iran's Supreme Leader and Leader of the Revolution the Ayatollah Khomeini lived the end part of his exile in France from 1978 till his return to Iran on February 1, 1979. That year Khomeini founded the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

March 1979, Rome, Italy

The Ayatollah Khomeini

Iran's Supreme Leader and Leader of the Revolution the Ayatollah Khomeini lived the end part of his exile in France from 1978 till his return to Iran on February 1, 1979. About one month after his return to Iran he traveled to Italy where he had a home. Later that year he would return to Iran to found and lead the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

1979, Rome, Italy

The Ayatollah Khomeini

Iran's Supreme Leader and Leader of the Revolution the Ayatollah Khomeini lived the end part of his exile in France from 1978 till his return to Iran on February 1, 1979. About one month after his return to Iran he traveled to Italy where he had a home. Later that year he would return to Iran to found and lead the Islamic Republic of Iran. Khomeini and his son Ahmad Khomeini

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

Thursday February 1, 1979, Tehran, Iran

The Ayatollah Khomeini

Iran's Supreme Leader and Leader of the Revolution the Ayatollah Khomeini lived the end part of his exile in France from 1978 till his return to Iran on February 1, 1979. That year Khomeini founded the Islamic Republic of Iran. Khomeini on the plane that flew him from France to Iran.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

February 1979, Tehran, Iran

The Ayatollah Khomeini

Iran's Supreme Leader and Leader of the Revolution the Ayatollah Khomeini lived the end part of his exile in France from 1978 till his return to Iran on February 1, 1979. That year Khomeini founded the Islamic Republic of Iran. Khomeini greets supporters.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

Thursday February 1, 1979, Tehran, Iran

The Ayatollah Khomeini

Iran's Supreme Leader and Leader of the Revolution the Ayatollah Khomeini lived the end part of his exile in France from 1978 till his return to Iran on February 1, 1979. That year Khomeini founded the Islamic Republic of Iran. Khomeini arrives at Tehran airport.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

Friday February 1, 1980, Tehran, Iran

The Ayatollah Khomeini

Iran's Supreme Leader and Leader of the Revolution the Ayatollah Khomeini lived the end part of his exile in France from 1978 till his return to Iran on February 1, 1979. That year Khomeini founded the Islamic Republic of Iran. One year later he was admitted to Tehran's hospital for a heart ailment. He relaxes in an armchair with his son Ahmad standing behind him and his three grandchildren by his side. In the back are Khomeini's wife, his son's wife and two of his nieces.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

January 1979, Neauphle-le-chateau, France

The Ayatollah Khomeini

Iran's Supreme Leader and Leader of the Revolution the Ayatollah Khomeini lived the end part of his exile in France from 1978 till his return to Iran on February 1, 1979. That year Khomeini founded the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

Thursday February 1, 1979, Tehran, Iran

The Iranian Revolution

It is estimated that six million greeted the Ayatollah Khomeini upon his return from exile. Iran's Supreme Leader and Leader of the Revolution the Ayatollah Khomeini lived the end part of his exile in France from 1978 till his return to Iran on February 1, 1979. That year Khomeini founded the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 1979, Tehran, Iran

The Iranian Revolution

In 1978 a series of protests started against the regime of the Shah of Iran leading to a December 12 demonstration where an estimated two million people filled the streets of Azadi Square. The army began to disintegrate, as conscripts refused to fire on demonstrators and began to switch sides. On January 16, 1979 the Shah and the empress left Iran.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 1979, Tehran, Iran

The Iranian Revolution

In 1978 a series of protests started against the regime of the Shah of Iran leading to a December 12 demonstration where an estimated two million people filled the streets of Azadi Square. The army began to disintegrate, as conscripts refused to fire on demonstrators and began to switch sides. On January 16, 1979 the Shah and the empress left Iran. What was left of the Shah's army battled protestors for several days in the streets of Tehran.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 1979, Tehran, Iran

The Iranian Revolution

In 1978 a series of protests started against the regime of the Shah of Iran leading to a December 12 demonstration where an estimated two million people filled the streets of Azadi Square. The army began to disintegrate, as conscripts refused to fire on demonstrators and began to switch sides. On January 16, 1979 the Shah and the empress left Iran. What was left of the Shah's army battled protestors for several days in the streets of Tehran.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 1979, Tehran, Iran

The Iranian Revolution

In 1978 a series of protests started against the regime of the Shah of Iran leading to a December 12 demonstration where an estimated two million people filled the streets of Azadi Square. The army began to disintegrate, as conscripts refused to fire on demonstrators and began to switch sides. On January 16, 1979 the Shah and the empress left Iran. Attack against the Ashrafi military camp.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

1979, Tehran, Iran

The American Hostages In Iran

Iranians burn the American flag at an anti American protest during the Iran hostage crisis, where 52 American diplomats were held hostage for 444 days.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

1979, Tehran, Iran

The American Hostages In Iran

Iranian women at an anti American protest during the Iran hostage crisis, where 52 American diplomats were held hostage for 444 days.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

1979, Tehran, Iran

The American Hostages In Iran

In the lobby of the Americam Embassy Iranian women are in charge of the reception, sitting in front of an anti American painting. Staff members of the embassy were kept hostages for 444 days following the fall of the Shah of Iran and the creation of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Ayatollah Khomeini. The hostage taking was in protest against America's refusal to hand over the Shah for trial in Iran. The 52 American hostages were eventually released on the day Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as President of the United states, with some claiming a deal had been struck between the Reagan campaign and Iran to delay the release till after the election as a way to weaken Jimmy Carter's candidacy.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

1979, Tehran, Iran

The American Hostages In Iran

Staff members of the American embassy in Tehran were kept hostages for 444 days following the fall of the Shah of Iran and the creation of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Ayatollah Khomeini. The hostage taking was in protest against America's refusal to hand over the Shah for trial in Iran. The 52 American hostages were eventually released on the day Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as President of the United states, with some claiming a deal had been struck between the Reagan campaign and Iran to delay the release till after the election as a way to weaken Jimmy Carter's candidacy.

Four American hostages are listening to a Christian counselor during their captivity.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 1979, Tehran, Iran

The Iranian Revolution

In 1978 a series of protests started against the regime of the Shah of Iran leading to a December 12 demonstration where an estimated two million people filled the streets of Azadi Square. The army began to disintegrate, as conscripts refused to fire on demonstrators and began to switch sides. On January 16, 1979 the Shah and the empress left Iran. What was left of the Shah's army battled protestors for several days in the streets of Tehran.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 1979, Tehran, Iran

The Iranian Revolution

In 1978 a series of protests started against the regime of the Shah of Iran leading to a December 12 demonstration where an estimated two million people filled the streets of Azadi Square. The army began to disintegrate, as conscripts refused to fire on demonstrators and began to switch sides. On January 16, 1979 the Shah and the empress left Iran. What was left of the Shah's army battled protestors for several days in the streets of Tehran.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 1979, Tehran, Iran

The Iranian Revolution

In 1978 a series of protests started against the regime of the Shah of Iran leading to a December 12 demonstration where an estimated two million people filled the streets of Azadi Square. The army began to disintegrate, as conscripts refused to fire on demonstrators and began to switch sides. On January 16, 1979 the Shah and the empress left Iran. What was left of the Shah's army battled protestors for several days in the streets of Tehran.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 1979, Tehran, Iran

The Iranian Revolution

In 1978 a series of protests started against the regime of the Shah of Iran leading to a December 12 demonstration where an estimated two million people filled the streets of Azadi Square. The army began to disintegrate, as conscripts refused to fire on demonstrators and began to switch sides. On January 16, 1979 the Shah and the empress left Iran. What was left of the Shah's army battled protestors for several days in the streets of Tehran.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 1979, Tehran, Iran

The Iranian Revolution

In 1978 a series of protests started against the regime of the Shah of Iran leading to a December 12 demonstration where an estimated two million people filled the streets of Azadi Square. The army began to disintegrate, as conscripts refused to fire on demonstrators and began to switch sides. On January 16, 1979 the Shah and the empress left Iran. What was left of the Shah's army battled protestors for several days in the streets of Tehran.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 1979, Tehran, Iran

The Iranian Revolution

In 1978 a series of protests started against the regime of the Shah of Iran leading to a December 12 demonstration where an estimated two million people filled the streets of Azadi Square. The army began to disintegrate, as conscripts refused to fire on demonstrators and began to switch sides. On January 16, 1979 the Shah and the empress left Iran.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

January 1979, Neauphle-le-chateau, France

The Ayatollah Khomeini

Iran's Supreme Leader and Leader of the Revolution the Ayatollah Khomeini lived the end part of his exile in France from 1978 till his return to Iran on February 1, 1979. That year Khomeini founded the Islamic Republic of Iran. Khomeini's daughters gather outside his residence to look at the latest issue of French magazine Paris Match that published a portrait of the Ayatollah Khomeini taken by iranian photographer Hatami

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

1979, Qom, Iran

The Iranian Revolution

The mosque in Qom, center of Iranian Shiite faith, with thousands of faithful.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

1979, Qom, Iran

The Iranian Revolution

The mosque in Qom, center of Iranian Shiite faith

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

1979, Qom, Iran

The Iranian Revolution

The mosque in Qom, center of Iranian Shiite faith

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

September 2005, New York, New York, USA

Iranian President Ahmadinejad in New York

During his visit to the United Nations Organization annual conference, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended a banquet at the Waldorf Astoria hotel for the Iranian community in the US. He met with students, business leaders, diplomats and supporters for whom he signed autographs. on April 11, 2006, Ahmadinejad anounced that Iran "has joined the club of nuclear countries" by successfully enriching uranium for the first time ó a key process in what Iran maintains is a peaceful energy program.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

September 2005, New York, New York, USA

Iranian President Ahmadinejad in New York

During his visit to the United Nations Organization annual conference, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended a banquet at the Waldorf Astoria hotel for the Iranian community in the US. He met with students, business leaders, diplomats and supporters for whom he signed autographs. on April 11, 2006, Ahmadinejad anounced that Iran "has joined the club of nuclear countries" by successfully enriching uranium for the first time ó a key process in what Iran maintains is a peaceful energy program.

Credit: Hatami / Polaris

Hatami