In 1979, an overwhelming majority of Iranians, 98.2%, voted in favor of adopting a new model of governance, transitioning from a secular monarchy to the world's first modern Islamic theocracy. Fast forward to 2026, the echoes of that referendum are drowned out by domestic protests and international condemnation, highlighting the ongoing discontent with the current regime.

The Iranian government, once seen as a national liberation project following the Islamic Revolution, is grappling with its most significant crisis of legitimacy since the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022. Amini's death while in police custody spurred widespread protests, which have continued to challenge the authority of the regime and its founding ideals influenced by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. This conflict between revolutionary ideals and the realities of governance has intensified public dissent.

Ruhollah Khomeini, born in 1902, rose to prominence as a leading figure in Shiite Islam and vehemently opposed the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who faced considerable unpopularity due to his repressive governance and reliance on intelligence and security measures to suppress dissent. Khomeini's legacy looms large over Iran's current socio-political landscape, leading many to question the sustainability of the theocratic system he established during the revolution.