Why did Ruhollah Khomeini consider the Mashhad shrine an important symbol?

Ruhollah Khomeini, the first supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, viewed the shrine of Ali al-Rida in Mashhad as a vital symbol of Iran’s Islamic character.3

The shrine holds unique significance as the only burial site of a Twelver Shi'i imam within Iranian borders. Historically, the shrine and its associated charitable trust, or bonyad, served as a center for the clerical-bazaar nexus—a powerful alliance between merchants and the clergy that often challenged state authority. Because the Pahlavi dynasty had previously attempted to seize control of these religious assets, the shrine became a focal point for clerical opposition and a foundational element in the lead-up to the Islamic Revolution. Following the revolution, the state prioritized the development of Mashhad, reinforcing the shrine's role as a cornerstone of the nation's religious and political identity.123