Part 1:
Ayatollah Khomeini Returns.
On January 16 1979, the Shah left Iran. He had appointed Dr. Shahpour Bakhtiar, a leading opposition figure as Prime Minister.
Ayatollah Khomeini was in Paris. His repeated calls for general strikes had brought the country to a standstill.

Despite the departure of the Shah, the Prime Minister, Dr. Bakhtiar believed that he could still win the support of Ayatollah Khomeini's followers and remain in power. In an attempt to find a solution to the crisis in Iran, he considered going to Paris to meet the Ayatollah:
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Ayatollah Khomeini's advisor, Abol Hassan Bani-Sadr, says he persuaded the Ayatollah not to meet the Iranian Prime Minister. Instead, Mr. Bani-Sadr put forward another proposal.
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The Prime Minister, Dr. Bakhtiar repeatedly stressed that he tried to reach a compromise with the Ayatollah. At the time he expressed his frustration:
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After the big march in Arba'in, Ayatollah Khomeini in a message to his supporters promised he would soon be among them in Iran. The talk of his return increased the concern of the army commanders, and the government closed Tehran airport. The Joint Chief of Staff, General Qarabaghi, tendered his resignation but then changed his mind:
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Tehran airport remained closed for several days until opposition protests and sit-ins forced the government to reopen it. Ayatollah Khomeini's supporters were preparing to welcome him back to Iran. According to Dr. Bakhtiar neither he nor his government were involved in making any such arrangements. But General Qarabaghi, claims Dr. Bakhtiar had issued secret orders to the Air Force to cooperate with the welcoming committee:
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On February 1, Ayatollah Khomeini flew into Tehran. Abol-Hassan Bani-Sadr was in the plane with him and watched as the clerics competed to be the first to greet the Ayatollah:
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Millions of people lined the road to the airport to welcome Ayatollah Khomeini. From the airport he travelled to Behesht-e Zahra (Tehran cemetery) and there in a speech, he outlined his vision of the future:
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