Scientifically, it would've been impossible for a society like Iran to continue the modernization and progress of 1970s without a major setback. History says the setback came in the form of a revolution in 1979, but that's just one of the many ways the setback could've happened. It could've been a lot worse, it could've been milder, who knows? Reality remains: Iran was never going to become the utopia many nostalgic and patriotic souls imagine. It would've been more or less where it is now with some minor differences. Every single day I arrive at that conclusion from a different angle with different reasons.