At this stage, Khomeini and his close advisers faced a difficult choice – to end the conflict or fight on till Saddam was overthrown, the latter having been Khomeini’s stated aim from the start of the war. The military seem to have advocated continuation of the war, particularly those from the IRGC, while Khomeini’s own view was that even if the war continued, Iranian troops should not enter Iraqi territory. The military commanders convinced him that entry into Iraq would be necessary to put pressure on the latter’s forces. Khomeini then approved the continuation of the war, but directed that
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