The Iranian people's movement, led by Grand Ayatollah Seyed Ruhollah Al-Khomeini, emerged in June 1963 in opposition to the Pahlavi regime. Despite Imam Khomeini's exile, the movement continued to grow and the stage was set for the revolution's triumph in 1979 after Mohammad Reza Shah fled the country on January 16. Imam Khomeini returned to Iran on February 1, 1979, and the revolution emerged victorious on February 11 of the same year, as Imam Khomeini hailed the movement as the "Islamic Revolution." Imam Khomeini passed away on June 3, 1989. On the next day, the Assembly of Experts convened and Imam Khomeini’s will was read by Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Eventually, a proposal for leadership of Ayatollah Khamenei was overwhelmingly accepted by the assembly.