On October 5, 1965 (Mehr 13, 1344 AHS), Imam, accompanied by his son Hajj Aqa Mostafa, left Turkey for his second place of exile: Iraq. There, he took up residence in the city of Najaf.
In addition to his engagement in the teaching of courses in advanced studies of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) and presenting the theoretical bases of Islamic rule, which were later published in a book entitled Welayat-e Faqih (the Government of the Islamic Jurisprudent), and despite the existing difficulties, Imam assiduously monitored the political affairs of Iran and the world of Islam whilst in Najaf and maintained contact in various ways with the Iranian revolutionaries, the families of those martyred in the uprising of June 5 (Khordad 15 AHS) and political prisoners.
Imam's presence in Iraq presented the opportunity for the establishment of amore direct and improved connection with the believers and the Muslim students abroad than had existed in the past; and this very factor played a significant role in propagating Imam's ideas and the objectives of the struggle throughout the world.