Hawzah News Agency (London, England) - Saeed al-Shahabi wrote in an article in the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper that 'the political system in Iran is now on the verge of forty. Four decades ago, this great and Muslim country experienced widespread change none of intelligence services or experts did never expected to happen.'

He said during millions-strong rallies Iranians protested against the Shah's regime, though the US President Jimmy Carter, stated that 'Mohammad Reza Pahlavi is still standing up' but the demonstrations showed the ineffectiveness of the US intelligence services, because Carter, relying on the CIA reports on the internal situation in Iran, continued to insist on protecting the Shah. 

"But the CIA reports differed from reality, and masses of Iranian people supported the Islamic Revolution and Imam Khamenei", the columnist noted.

According to al-Shahabi, the Islamic Revolution of Iran has several characteristics that distinguishes it from other revolutions. 

"First, when 'political Islam' had no place in the religious and political circles of the world, the Islamic revolution introduced itself to the world based on a clear religious approach. Second, this revolution was a very popular revolution, and the streets of various Iranian cities experienced a high turn- out of people'. Third, this revolution was a comprehensive and principle-based revolution, and its leader refused to negotiate with the Shah, and always insisted on the fall of the Shah's regime and his departure, which ultimately succeeded.

The Arab analyst further highlighted that "The leaders of this revolution from the outset, without fearing anyone for adhering to political Islam, followed their own ideology and the Iranian people led by Imam Khomeini succeeded in disrupting US policy in the Middle East."