> a decades long attack on the secular, parliamentary oriented forces This is a bizarre argument. Secularism and westernization in Iran during the 20th century

> a decades long attack on the secular, parliamentary oriented forces This is a bizarre argument. Secularism and westernization in Iran during the 20th century were almost entirely a result of Reza Shah's reforms, as well as his closeness with the British monarchy -- itself a parliamentary system. > Iran had a large communist movement By the time of the revolution the Tudeh party and other communist groups were quite weak. They contributed to the upheaval without having any credible chance of installing their own leadership in the country. > Initially the Shah supported the ayatollahs This is a rosy but false claim. Khomeini and Khamenei spent a collective 18 years in exile under the Shah, and faced house arrest while in the country. The Shah arguably gave ground away from his own power base (aristocrats) during the White Revolution, but arguably this was intended to subdue anti-monarchical sentiment and solidify his power. That doesn't mean he "supported the ayatollahs."