The Iranian Revolution overthrew Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1979, replacing monarchy with Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini's leadership. Mass protests, strikes, and guerrilla activity combined with clerical organization to topple the Western-backed regime. The revolution established a theocratic government implementing strict Islamic law, triggering Iran-Iraq War and transforming Middle Eastern geopolitics while inspiring Islamist movements globally.

The revolution forced many Iranian poets into exile, creating diaspora literature exploring displacement and nostalgia. Exiled poets like Forough Farrokhzad (pre-revolution) and later voices addressed women's rights restrictions and political repression under the new regime. Persian poetry's rich tradition of mystical ambiguity allowed poets to critique theocracy through Sufi metaphors and classical allusions that evaded censorship. Contemporary Iranian poetry navigates tensions between Islamic identity and desires for freedom, continuing classical Persian poetry's tradition of layered meanings that speak differently to various audiences.