Khomeini Mosque: Hub of Iran Revolution chosen by Khamenei for rare sermon

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei chose the historic Imam Khomeini Mosque for his first Friday sermon in almost five years, asserting that Israel "won't last long" and defending Iran's attacks on Tel Aviv. However, the optics of Khamenei addressing thousands of Iranians from a place that played a key role in the 1979 Islamic Revolution was not lost on anyone.

The Imam Khomeini Mosque, previously known as the Shah Mosque, is one of Iran's most historically significant architectural wonders, situated in the heart of Tehran. Constructed in the 18th century during the reign of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar, the mosque is one of the remaining buildings from the Qajar era.

However, the iconic landmark, surrounded by Tehran's Grand Bazaar, is also a symbol of resistance and was a hub for dissenting voices that eventually led to the eviction of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the establishment of the Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

IMPORTANCE OF IMAM KHOMEINI MOSQUE OR SHAH MOSQUE

Prior to the revolution, Iran was ruled by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who had the backing of the West and the United States. The Shah, however, became hugely unpopular after he launched a 'White Revolution' in 1963 -- a government program that included several reforms, including voting rights for women.

While the reforms were lauded by many in Iran, Islamic leaders viewed it as the "westernisation" of Iran. Led by Ruhollah Khomeini, a Shiite cleric, and his follower Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, this section called for the overthrow of the Shah.

In 1964, Khomeini was exiled and settled across the border in Iraq. Ali Khamenei was also involved in protests against the Shah and was imprisoned several times.

The mosque played an instrumental role in organising protests and strikes as social unrest and economic discontent grew under the Shah's regime. Its strategic location in Tehran's central square became a natural gathering point for Islamic scholars, students, and activists.

The sermons delivered at the mosque blended religious teachings with political criticism of the Shah's regime, resonating across a broad cross-section of society. Moreover, the exiled Khomeini's messages, smuggled into the country, were also shared from the mosque. It helped maintain the momentum among his supporters in the face of government crackdowns.

It also acted as a coordination centre for different opposition groups, helping to unify factions under the banner of Islamic nationalism. The mosque was renamed the Imam Khomeini Mosque after the ouster of the Shah in 1979.

The Imam Khomeini Mosque continued to play a significant role in contemporary Iran and became a site for commemorating the revolution's martyrs. Today, it remains an important site for religious and political gatherings, just like the massive turnout at Ali Khamenei's rare Friday sermon.