Historical Organization
Provisional Government of Iran
Provisional Government of Iran
Details
Organization Timeline
The provisional government is presented to the public
📅 5 February 1979Bazargan's appointment joined the Islamic leadership with a veteran nationalist and supporter of Mossadegh.
Two rival governments claim authority
📅 5 February 1979Bakhtiar still headed the royal cabinet, while the revolutionary movement recognized Bazargan's provisional government.
Bazargan receives a mandate for elections and a constitution
📅 5 February 1979The provisional administration was expected to hold a referendum, prepare constitutional arrangements and restore basic government services.
Khomeini appoints Mehdi Bazargan prime minister
📅 5 February 1979Bazargan was asked to form a provisional government and organize the transition to a new republic.
Yasser Arafat visits revolutionary Iran
📅 17 February 1979The Palestinian leader became the first prominent foreign guest after the revolution's victory.
Iran declares solidarity with Palestine
📅 17 February 1979The visit symbolized a foreign policy shift from alliance with Israel under the Shah toward support for Palestinian liberation.
The former Israeli mission is transferred to the PLO
📅 17 February 1979The transformation of the diplomatic building gave material expression to the revolution's anti-Zionist position.
Mostafa Chamran returns to serve the revolution
📅 17 February 1979The activist with experience in Lebanon joined the new government and helped connect Iranian and regional liberation movements.
Women march on International Women's Day
📅 8 March 1979Thousands demonstrated in Tehran after statements requiring hijab in government workplaces.
Women defend their role in the revolution
📅 8 March 1979Participants insisted that those who had opposed the Shah should help define the freedoms and social order of post-revolutionary Iran.
Different revolutionary visions become visible
📅 8 March 1979The protests exposed tensions among Islamic, socialist, nationalist and feminist interpretations of emancipation.
The demonstrations continue for several days
📅 8 March 1979Women workers, students and professionals organized meetings and marches despite harassment and political pressure.
Most opposition currents support or debate the proposal
📅 30 March 1979Some groups endorsed the new republic, while others criticized the yes-or-no format or called for a boycott.
Women participate as voters
📅 30 March 1979Women's participation affirmed their visible role in the revolution and in deciding the formal structure of the new state.
The referendum rejects monarchy
📅 30 March 1979For supporters, the vote translated the revolutionary overthrow into a direct act of popular sovereignty.
Voting begins on an Islamic republic
📅 30 March 1979Citizens were asked whether monarchy should be replaced by an Islamic Republic.
The Islamic Republic is proclaimed
📅 1 April 1979After the referendum count, 1 April was declared the founding day of the Islamic Republic.
Monarchy is formally abolished
📅 1 April 1979The result ended the hereditary political order and replaced it with a republic grounded in the revolution.
Independence becomes a founding principle
📅 1 April 1979Supporters understood the new republic as a break with foreign domination, especially the political legacy of the 1953 coup.
The state begins translating revolutionary aims into institutions
📅 1 April 1979The proclamation opened a contested process over constitutional authority, participation and social justice.
A preliminary constitution is published
📅 14 June 1979The provisional government's draft proposed republican institutions and mechanisms for reviewing legislation.
The draft opens a national constitutional debate
📅 14 June 1979Political organizations, clerics and citizens argued over rights, sovereignty, social justice and Islamic authority.
The first draft does not yet contain the final form of velayat-e faqih
📅 14 June 1979The stronger office of the leading jurist emerged during later deliberations in the elected Assembly of Experts.
Revolutionary goals enter legal language
📅 14 June 1979The text sought to institutionalize independence, participation and a break with the monarchical constitution.
Bazargan's provisional government resigns
📅 6 November 1979The prime minister and cabinet stepped down after failing to secure an end to the embassy occupation.
Khomeini accepts the cabinet's resignation
📅 6 November 1979Executive authority shifted more directly toward the Revolutionary Council and institutions aligned with the Islamic leadership.
The embassy crisis changes the internal balance of power
📅 6 November 1979Anti-imperialist mobilization strengthened the students and clerical leadership while marginalizing gradualist nationalists.
The provisional phase of government ends
📅 6 November 1979The resignation closed the coalition administration formed before the monarchy's collapse.