At the same time, a new wave of intellectual and ideological movements was gaining momentum. Among the most significant of these was the emergence of political Islam, particularly the ideas espoused by clerics who sought to challenge the secular monarchy and replace it with an Islamic government. The most prominent of these clerics was Ruhollah Khomeini, who had been exiled for his outspoken opposition to the Shah’s regime. Khomeini’s critique of the monarchy resonated with a wide range of people, from religious conservatives to secular intellectuals, and he became the symbol of the opposition.
Khomeini’s influence grew as the Shah’s regime became more unpopular. His ideas were rooted in a specific interpretation of Shiite Islam, particularly the concept of Velayat al-Faqih, which called for the governance of the country by Islamic jurists. This idea stood in stark contrast to the secular, Western-oriented policies of the Shah. Khomeini argued that the political system should be based on Islamic principles, and that the clergy, rather than the monarchy or the military, should hold political power. This vision of an Islamic state became the rallying cry for a broad coalition of opposition groups, ranging from conservative clerics to leftist intellectuals.
