This article traces the history of Iran from the end of the Second World War to the present day. It examines the collapse of imperial influence after 1945, the 1953 coup that strengthened the Shah’s rule, and the dramatic upheaval of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It also considers the long Iran–Iraq War, tensions with Western powers, disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme, and the country’s role in wider Middle Eastern politics. Through these developments Iran has moved from monarchy to Islamic republic while remaining a central actor in regional and global affairs.