Final answer:
The correct answer is option C. To modernize and secularize Iran.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reign of Reza Shah was marked by several ambitious aims, but the primary goal of Reza Shah was to modernize and secularize Iran. He sought to bring Iran in line with Western nations by embracing their cultural norms and modernizing various aspects of Iranian society. This was evident through his policies of industrialization, educational reforms, and infrastructural development, as well as his approach to reducing the role of religion in governance, thereby promoting secularism. His efforts to westernize Iran included embracing Western culture, which attracted criticism from conservative Muslims who felt marginalized by the rapid transformation.
Reza Shah also established policies to promote a free-market economy and closely aligned with the West, especially in terms of foreign policy. However, these changes resulted in growing discontent among certain factions, which ultimately contributed to the rise of opposition, leading to his eventual downfall and the revolution of 1979, when the monarchy was replaced by the Islamic Republic. It is also important to note that Reza Shah’s government was marked by the establishment of SAVAK, a secret police force that was notorious for human rights abuses during his tenure.