In January 1978, demonstrations intensified in Iran and a revolution soon followed. As a consequence, the monarchy was abolished and Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his family fled the country. After first traveling to Egypt, Morocco, and the Bahamas seeking asylum, the Shah and his family arrived in Mexico in June 1979 where he was granted asylum. Fearing reprisals by the Iranian people and the government for its decision in allowing the Shah to seek asylum in Mexico; Mexico closed its embassy in Tehran. As a result, Iran downgraded its diplomatic representation in Mexico to that of a "Chargé d'affaires". In October 1979, the Shah left Mexico and traveled to the United States for medical treatment where he soon succumbed to his illness and died in July 1980 in Egypt.