بهزاد قاسمی

Objective: Impartial scholars believe that pervasive corruption was a key characteristic of the Pahlavi regime. While extensive research has been conducted on this topic, it has not been thoroughly examined through the lens of the leaders of the Islamic Revolution. This article aims to address this gap by asking: ‘What is Imam Khamenei's definition of corruption, and how does he view its depth and breadth within the Pahlavi regime?’ To answer this question, a content analysis and documentary study approach were used. The research examined and compiled a collection of statements from the Leader of the Revolution. Method: The research method is qualitative of a historical type, and the analysis is documentary and qualitative. Data collection was conducted through library research and note-taking, and the explanation is provided with a sociological approach centered on religious values. Results: Within the framework of his thoughts and with the aid of historical documents, court insiders' memoirs and writings, and existing research, this study presents examples and evidence of the court's corruption in each area. Conclusions:  The findings indicate that, in Imam Khamenei's view, the Pahlavi regime was afflicted by corruption in its moral, financial, managerial, and political aspects, and that this corruption was widespread. The Shah himself was the core of this corruption, and the closer individuals were to this core, the more corrupt they were. The present study aims to analyze the role of religious values in the formation of popular protests during the premiership of Jamshid Amouzegar as a reflection of the nature of the Islamic Revolution. The central problem of the research is to explain the nature of the movement and the role of values in the events of Jamshid Amouzegar's premiership. The Shah's effort in bringing Amouzegar to power was to prevent the Islamic Revolution. In this study, the Islamic movement and its significant events are explained with a focus on values, and from this perspective, the present topic is worthy of research. Thus, the necessity of reviewing and analyzing Iran's political events in a revolutionary state is once again reinforced. This paper seeks to answer the question: ‘What role did Islamic values play in the events leading to the Islamic Revolution during the premiership of Jamshid Amouzegar?’ It appears that the nature of the protests following these events was oriented towards revolutionary values and the performance of religious duty. Imam Khomeini's educational approach, through the revival of religious rites, played a decisive role in the general mobilization against the Pahlavi regime. The research findings indicate that the Goethe Poetry Nights, the martyrdom of Mostafa Khomeini, the death of Dr. Shariati, the insulting article in the Ettela'at newspaper, the Cinema Rex fire, and the fortieth-day mourning ceremonies inspired by religious values and derived from the 40th of Sayyid al-Shuhada (Imam Hussein) were among the most important events that acted as carriers of religious values and had sociological impacts on the course of the revolution and the regime's collapse. Conclution:The results of the study of historical events during the prime ministership of Jamshid Amouzgar showed that the Islamic Revolution was a movement focused on values. The popular movement at the end of the Pahlavi regime was rooted in rational action focused on values, and collective behavior and social movements were formed on this basis; this led to the victory of the Islamic Revolution.