ted. However, the problems that would undercut the regime and lead to its overthrow still existed. In particular, the freedom of the SAVAK continued to increase and its brutality was well known (Mottahedeh, 1985). The shah was feared more than loved and respected.
At the same time, the opposition still thrived. Khomeini remained an important voice in exile. Perhaps one of the major, and ironic, problems is that Reza Shah did not actually attempt early in his regime to disestablish Islam as did his contemporary Ataturk. As a consequence, there remained two major power centers in Iran the shah and the mullahs. These mullahs had many reasons to hate the shah, not limited to his self-indulgence.
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