13. Khomeini Formed a New Islamic Government
The prevailing sentiment of the revolution, as it unfolded, was that Iranians wanted to take their country back from Western powers, particularly the United States, that had long exploited it. Many groups expressed different desires for what the new government should look like, but what was clear was that the country would no longer agree to any form of Western imperialism. Some wanted to set up a democratic form of government, such as had existed briefly under Mohammad Mossadegh (whom the American CIA overthrew in a 1953 coup), while others wanted a religious way of government.
As the leader and symbolic figurehead of the revolution, Khomeini’s vision for an Islamic government, headed by an Islamic cleric, was the one that came to define the new government. The country would have a majlis, or parliament, and be led politically by a democratically elected president. Seeing over the government institutions would be the Grand Ayatollah, who was regarded as a representative of the succession from the prophet Mohammad. As God’s representative in the government, he would have the authority to veto virtually anything that the government did. Not surprisingly, the first Grand Ayatollah was Ayatollah Khomeini. He was elected with 99% of the vote.