Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the last Shah (king) of Iran, ruling from 1941 until 1979. He was known for modernizing the country through various reforms, including efforts to improve education and women's rights. However, his reign was also marked by political repression and a lack of democratic freedoms, which led to widespread discontent among the people. In 1979, the Iranian Revolution resulted in his overthrow, and he fled the country. This revolution led to the establishment of an Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini, fundamentally changing Iran's political landscape and impacting its relations with the rest of the world.