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(Happily jumping out of the frying pan)

Thirty-one years ago today The Islamic Revolution in Iran declared victory. With fighting still going on in the streets, the provisional government of Shahpour Bakhtiar, loyal to the deposed Shah of Iran, collapsed and paved the way for a takeover by the forces of Ayatollah Khomeni and a victory for Islamic fundamentalism.

Things have changed in the 31 years since. The promise of change did just that, but it wasn't the change everyone had in mind. No, it managed to replace one repressive regime for another. And thirty-one years later there is rioting again in the streets.

Three reports today - the first from that day in 1979:

Ann Taylor (NBC News): “Iran’s religious opposition appears to be in control, with reports that the Bakhiar government has been toppled. But no official word yet on the resignation of the Prime Minister.”

The second, a report from earlier today via the BBC and their PM program on Radio 4:

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Eyewitness (to PM): “Wherever people gathered the security forces attacked them, and at times using their motorbikes, went right into the crowd. The security forces had batons which some of them were concealing under their sleeves. It was the same story both north and south of the river”

And the third, a news report earlier today from IRIB Radio in Tehran. IRIB is the government-run news service, so don't expect anything resembling objective reporting.

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One event that changed the landscape and, no doubt probably the destiny of the region, most likely forever, or at least for now.

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(Jumping from one frying pan straight into another.)

With the elections in Iran less than two days away, I remembered 2009 marked the 30th anniversary of the overthrow of the Shah and the ushering in of the Ayatollah - going from one repressive regime to another in a matter of months.

And in 2009 there is talk of an ouster of the fundamentalist regime of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a swing towards moderation and an unprecedented youth vote, probably too young to remember those days in 1979.

Word on the streets in Tehran is moderation and reform - women having an equal say in government, doing away with the repressive restrictions. Losing the stranglehold the fundamentalists have had these past 30 years.

But it's interesting to look back during those first 3 months of the overthrow (January to March 1979) to hear what was unfolding. News reports and speculations and finally an interview via Face The Nation with the Ayatollah Khomeni.

A quick look back. Later on in the year it would mean American hostages - and we'll cover that in the coming months.