Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was a key Iranian political and religious figure who played a central role in the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which resulted in the fall of the Pahlavi monarchy and the creation of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Born in 1902 in Khomein, Iran, he rose to prominence as an influential Shia cleric, strongly opposing Western influence and the secular policies of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.

Khomeini’s teachings and writings stressed the necessity of Islamic governance, introducing the concept of “Velayat-e Faqih” (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist), which became the foundation of Iran’s political framework post-revolution. His leadership united diverse groups against the Shah, and his return from exile in France in February 1979 marked a significant turning point in Iran’s history.