23 Photos Of What Iran Looked Like In The 1970s

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 01/08/2025 in wow

Here in the United States, we have a very curated image of Iran, and the Iranian people. Heck, the biggest blockbuster of the last five years in Top Gun used them as the faceless "enemy."

But before the Ayatollah, the hostage crisis, or the Islamic revolution, Iran and much of the middle east was almost indistinguishable from the west. Are those bellbottoms and flat tops? Yes, they are.

While Iran in the 1970s certainly had its issues, many Americans have no clue that one of the countries they fear the most used to look just like theirs.

Here are 23 photos of what Iran looked like in the 1970s.

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1. Woman and Her BMW
1977, the year before the revolution. Tehran, Iran.
2. Miss Iran 1978 Candidate
Paddling on a lake at Donya-ye Khorram park in Tehran, Iran.
3. A Beach
Iran, 1978.
4. Skiers at a Resort
Just outside of Tehran, Iran, 1970s.
5. Tehran’s National University Students
Soon before the revolution.
6. A Mother and Her Son
In the children’s section of a Tehran department store in 1971.
7. Iranian Men's Fashion
From the slide collection of an American tourist, 1975.
8. Street Fashion
Tehran, 1970s.
9. Iran Air
Flight attendants in the 1970s.
10. “My Dad in Ahvaz, Iran”
“He's hanging out with some American woman he met after fixing her car. He was a mechanic. 1973.
11. “My Mother”
A university professor in Iran during the 1970s.
12. Kurdish Girls
Attending school in Iran, 1970s.
13. “My Grandma and Uncle”
In Iran, April 1971.
14. “My Mother”
Living life and playing football before the revolution, Iran, 1970s.
15. A Day at the Beach
Iran, before the Islamic Revolution, 1970s.
16. Airman
Poses for a Magazine Cover Iran, 1970s.
17. University Students in Tehran
Reading in the 1970s.
18. Miss Iran 1978 Finalists
That would be the last year of the competition.
19. Iran Air
First class, 1970s.
20. Before the Islamic Revolution
Iran in the 1970s.
21. Iranian Magazine Covers
Fashion and sports, 1970s.
22. Musician Group Photo
Colorful in the ‘70s.
23. Forouzan
An Iranian actress, 1975.

1. Woman and Her BMW
1977, the year before the revolution. Tehran, Iran.
2. Miss Iran 1978 Candidate
Paddling on a lake at Donya-ye Khorram park in Tehran, Iran.
3. A Beach
Iran, 1978.
4. Skiers at a Resort
Just outside of Tehran, Iran, 1970s.
5. Tehran’s National University Students
Soon before the revolution.
6. A Mother and Her Son
In the children’s section of a Tehran department store in 1971.
7. Iranian Men's Fashion
From the slide collection of an American tourist, 1975.
8. Street Fashion
Tehran, 1970s.
9. Iran Air
Flight attendants in the 1970s.
10. “My Dad in Ahvaz, Iran”
“He's hanging out with some American woman he met after fixing her car. He was a mechanic. 1973.
11. “My Mother”
A university professor in Iran during the 1970s.
12. Kurdish Girls
Attending school in Iran, 1970s.
13. “My Grandma and Uncle”
In Iran, April 1971.
14. “My Mother”
Living life and playing football before the revolution, Iran, 1970s.
15. A Day at the Beach
Iran, before the Islamic Revolution, 1970s.
16. Airman
Poses for a Magazine Cover Iran, 1970s.
17. University Students in Tehran
Reading in the 1970s.
18. Miss Iran 1978 Finalists
That would be the last year of the competition.
19. Iran Air
First class, 1970s.
20. Before the Islamic Revolution
Iran in the 1970s.
21. Iranian Magazine Covers
Fashion and sports, 1970s.
22. Musician Group Photo
Colorful in the ‘70s.
23. Forouzan
An Iranian actress, 1975.