Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (Persian: محمد رضا پهلوی‎, 26 October 1919 – 27 July 1980), also known as Mohammad Reza Shah (محمد رضا شاه), often referred to in popular culture as The Shah, was the last Shah (Emperor) of Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979. Mohammad Reza Shah took the title Shahanshah ("King of Kings") on 26 October 1967. He was the second and last monarch of the House of Pahlavi. Mohammad Reza held several other titles, including that of Aryamehr ("Light of the Aryans") and Bozorg Arteshtaran ("Commander-in-Chief"). His dream of what he referred to as a "Great Civilization" (Persian: تمدن بزرگ‎, tamadon-e bozorg) in Iran led to a rapid industrial and military modernization, as well as economic and social reforms.

By 1977 the Shah's military expansion had made Iran the world's fifth strongest nation. However, he lost support from Iran's Shi'a clergy as well as the working class, particularly due to his strong policy of modernization, secularism, conflict with the merchant class, relations with Israel, and corruption issues surrounding himself and the royal family, and the ruling elite. By 1979, political unrest had transformed into a revolution. The Shah's refusal to order his troops to fire on protesters forced him with no other choice but to leave Iran on 17 January 1979. Soon thereafter, the Iranian monarchy was formally abolished, and Iran was declared an Islamic republic led by Ruhollah Khomeini. Facing likely execution should he return to Iran, the Shah died in exile in Egypt.

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in State of Jefferson
The Shah granted asylum to a large number of exiled yetis in 1959, following the fall of Tibet to China. After 20 years of safety in Iran, the Shah's 1979 overthrow caused these exiles to become stateless once again.