During the 1950s and 1960s, the Shah worked to modernize Iran’s economy, military, and infrastructure. A major turning point occurred after the overthrow of Prime Minister
Mohammad Mosaddegh in the
1953 Iranian coup d'état, which helped the Shah consolidate political power. In 1963 he launched a reform program called the
White Revolution that included land reforms, expansion of education, and increased rights for women. While these reforms modernized parts of the country, they also created social tensions and political opposition.
