Khomeini himself proved unwavering in his determination to transform Iran into a theocratically ruled Islamic state. Iran’s Shiʿi clerics largely took over the formulation of governmental policy, while Khomeini arbitrated between the various revolutionary factions and made final decisions on important matters requiring his personal authority. First his regime took political vengeance, with hundreds of people who had worked for the shah’s regime reportedly executed. The remaining domestic opposition was then suppressed, its members being systematically imprisoned or killed. Iranian women were required to wear the veil, Western music and alcohol were banned, and the punishments prescribed by Islamic law were reinstated. The main thrust of Khomeini’s foreign policy was the complete abandonment of the shah’s pro-Western orientation and the adoption of an attitude of unrelenting hostility toward both superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. In addition, Iran tried to export its brand of Islamic revivalism to neighbouring Muslim countries, particularly among their Shiʿi populations. Khomeini sanctioned Iranian militants’ seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehrān (November 4, 1979) and their holding of American diplomatic personnel as hostages for more than a year (see Iran hostage crisis). He also refused to countenance a peaceful solution to the Iran-Iraq War, which had begun in 1980 and which he insisted on prolonging in the hope of overthrowing Saddam. Khomeini finally approved a cease-fire in 1988 that effectively ended the war (Source: Britanica).
Imam Khomeini the Founding Father of Islamic Revolution of Iran
