Was Khomeini preparing for the Islamic Mahdi?

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, did not explicitly claim that he was preparing for the arrival of the Mahdi, the prophesied redeemer in Shia Islam. However, his political and religious activities, as well as the establishment of the Islamic Republic, were deeply rooted in Shia eschatological beliefs, which include the anticipation of the Mahdi's return.

In Twelver Shia Islam, the Mahdi is the twelfth Imam, who is believed to be in occultation and will return to bring justice and establish an Islamic government. Khomeini's revolution was framed in a way that resonated with Shia messianic expectations, emphasizing the need for an Islamic government and justice in the absence of the Mahdi.

While Khomeini did not claim to be preparing directly for the Mahdi's return, his rhetoric and policies often invoked the idea of an Islamic state as a precursor to the Mahdi's eventual appearance. The concept of "Wilayat al-Faqih" (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist), which Khomeini developed, positions the religious leadership as a temporary authority to govern in accordance with Islamic principles until the Mahdi's return.

So, while Khomeini's actions can be seen as indirectly related to the preparation for the Mahdi, they were more about establishing an Islamic government and society in line with Shia teachings than about a direct, imminent preparation for the Mahdi's arrival.