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Imam Khomeini was, in fact, constantly, and acutely aware of the connections between Iranian affairs and those of the Muslim world in general and the Arab lands and Palestinian issue in particular. During the last few months of his exile, Imam Khomeini received a constant stream of reporters, supporters, and notables, eager to hear the spiritual leader of the revolution. Imam Khomeini, the late founder of Islamic Republic raised the banner of defending Palestinians even years before the victory of Islamic Revolution under his victory.
Seyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini (May 17, 1900 – June 3, 1989) was a Muslim cleric and Marja, and the political leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution of Iran which overthrew Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran.
A series of historic interviews were conducted with Imam in Paris during exile just months before return to homeland.
Imam back then also told the reporters that he had explained his arguments for his opposition to the Shah regime in several declarations and interviews over the past years.
The Shah regime was installed by foreigners and they have been imposing their wrong notions and policies against the Iranian public and masses, the great imam said during his stay on the suburbs of the French capital Paris.
The great Imam Khomeini had further stressed that the Pahlavi regime was accountable for keeping the country backward in several arenas and fields of life.
Imam Khomeini also said that the Shah regime was absolute monarchy and had held no presidential, parliamentary or local body council election over nearly past five decades.
Commenting on the complicated situation of the country, Imam said that the Pahalavi regime has had failed to adopt independence economic, cultural and political policies.
"The Iranian nation must know that I will stay by their side up until the end to uphold and protect the laws of Islam and will continue my struggle for the well-being of the country. It is incumbent upon the entire nation to remain steadfast in this affair and to refrain from any kind of lethargy and lassitude in this regard. Rest assured that we will emerge victorious, and our struggle is a struggle for the truth and the truth will prevail over the falsehood," Imam said in one of the interviews during his stay in Neauphle-le-Château.
Only two weeks after the Shah fled Iran on January 16, 1979, Imam Khomeini returned to Iran triumphantly, on Thursday, February 1, 1979, invited by the anti-Shah revolution which was already in progress.
Conservative estimates put the welcoming crowd of Iranians at least three million. When Imam Khomeini was on plane on his way to Iran after many years in exile, a reporter, Peter Jennings asked him: "What do you feel?" and surprisingly Imam Khomeini answered "Nothing!"
In a speech given to a huge crowd on the first day of returning to Iran, Imam Khomeini attacked the government of Shapoor Bakhtiar promising "I shall punch their teeth in." He also made a variety of promises to Iranians for his coming Islamic regime: A popularly elected government that would represent the people of Iran.
On February 11, Imam Khomeini declared a provisional government. On March 30, 1979, and March 31, 1979, the provisional government asked all Iranians sixteen years of age and older, male and female, to vote in a referendum on the question of accepting an Islamic Republic as the new form of government and constitution.
Through the ballot box, over 98% voted in favor of replacing the monarchy with an Islamic Republic. Subsequent elections were held to approve of the newly-drafted Constitution.
