Why did so many people leave Iran after the Iranian revolution?

Question

Why did so many people leave Iran after the Iranian revolution?

Answer 1

Life was not too good there.

Answer 2

Those who were not religious, or not fanatical, anyway, and those who were westernized fled, of course, because they could see that Iran was decending into a theocratic, anti-western state.  Later groups left because of oppression and the lack of economic opportunity.

Answer 3

The regime of the late Shah Reza Pahlevi brought his ancient land into the 20th century practically by its ear.  This development caused a significant portion of the populace to become "modernized" - in appearance, intellectual upbringing and aspiration.  But not all of them fled to the West because as Muslims and patriots, many believed in the promise of an Islamist State, only to regret later.  Among those who fled were members of the old regime, the secular Iranians, members of the nobility and some of the persecuted religious communitites, such as the Baha'i sect.